Bath MP praises Ukraine fundraising concert
Hundreds attended the Together We Stand event at Bath Abbey
Last updated 25th Feb 2025
The MP for Bath is praising the city's "unwavering support" for Ukraine following a concert at Bath Abbey to mark exactly three years since Russia's full scale invasion.
Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse was one of hundreds of people who attended the Together We Stand event on Monday 24th February, which it is thought raised around £10,000 to support Ukrainian civilians.
Through music, art and literature, the concert offered a poignant reflection on the resilience of the Ukrainian people and the importance of continued solidarity from the UK. Interspersed between orchestral performances, readings written by Ukrainian refugees were performed by Bath actors.
Ms Hobhouse said: "I’m extremely proud of the unwavering support Bath has shown for Ukraine in the three years since Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion.
"It was touching to see our community come together once again at the ‘Together we Stand’ concert in solidarity with our Ukrainian friends who have heroically fought against Putin’s war machine.
"But now, more than ever, we must stand firmly united against these brutal assaults on democracy and freedom. As Trump cosies up to Putin, we urgently need to focus on strengthening ties with our European neighbours.”
The concert came as the new US administration under President Donald Trump has begun negotiations with Vladimir Putin over ending the war, but without direct Ukrainian involvement. President Trump has also called Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky a "dictator", causing despair across the rest of the Western world.
Zhenya Shkill, who is originally from Ukraine but has lived in Bathford for years and who organised the Together We Stand concert, said: "I know that Ukraine matters to people and that's the most important message for me.
"I wanted this to be a place for Ukrainian refugees to come on this very special, very sad day, but also Ukraine's supporters...
"It matters a lot what we are doing."
Ms Shkill runs the Friends of Oleksandriya charitable association, which since the war began has been fundraising to send medical supplies and other support to the Ukrainian city, which has a similar population to Bath.
Since 2022 the group has sent generators to the city to help power its hospitals and an ambulance, while it is currently fundraising to purchase a bus to help get Ukrainian children from surrounding villages to school.
In 2023 an official Friendship Agreement was signed between Bath and North East Somerset Council and Oleksandriya Territorial Community.
You can find out more about the Friends of Oleksandriya group via its website here.