DORSET’S Ukrainian community rallied together to mark the country’s independence day during a tree planting ceremony.
The weekend event symbolised Ukraine’s growing roots in across Bournemouth and the rest of Dorset.
Despite heavy rain and thunder, more than 100 people from across the county flocked to Redhill Park on Saturday, August 26.
Since the Russian invasion, more than 1,000 refugees are thought to have settled in Dorset under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
The gathering at the park off Redhill Avenue was a celebration of Ukrainian culture, music, food and art.
Olena Myronova settled in Broadstone after the invasion with her daughter, meanwhile, her husband stayed in Ukraine to fight.
“When I came, my host really helped me,” she said.
“In one or two months, I met our community, Ukrainian people. I took support from the community, from English people, from the church, from my host and now I am ok.”
Ukrainians from across Dorset, including Weymouth and Yeovil, and further afield all travelled to take part in the celebrations.
Coordinator for Weymouth Dorset Ukrainian Community, Maryna Dovbysh, said it is ‘very important to gather together’ to mark the occasion.
“For our kids, it is very important to see our culture, our language, our songs and symbols that are important for us,” she said.
“It’s quite hard to be abroad because we never planned to be refugees, but we try to do our best.”
Also attending were Christchurch mayor Cllr Vivienne Charett, Poole deputy mayor Cllr Tony Trent, Bournemouth deputy mayor Cllr George Farquhar and Weymouth mayor Cllr Kate Wheller.
Chair of BCP Council, Cllr Lesley Dedman, said she was ‘really glad’ to be representing the authority.
The representatives shared bread in a Ukrainian welcoming tradition before they helped plant three trees in the park, symbols of Ukraine’s growing roots in the area.
The MP for Bournemouth East, Tobias Ellwood, addressed the gathering and said it was ‘humbling’ to join the community to celebrate the day.
And, that it was ‘important that we stand firmly with Ukraine and Ukraine is victorious’.
He said Bournemouth and Dorset should be ‘incredibly proud’ of their support of the Ukrainian community.
The Tory politician praised the aid group, Ukraine Relief, and its founder Karol Swiacki, for its efforts.
He added: “Bournemouth people are still generating a myriad of life-supporting products that Ukrainians need.
“What Dorset has done on the refugee side has also been phenomenal.”
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