Ukrainian festival returns ahead of country’s Independence Day
Last year, more than 3,000 people attended UkraineFest
UkraineFest is returning to the Town Gardens for its third year - just one day ahead of Ukrainian Independence Day.
Alongside the celebrations, a community group is calling on people in Swindon to stand with its refugees.
Ukrainians living in Swindon are using the opportunity to send a message: Stand With Us.
Anastasiia Banatska, Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine, said: “In those three years, Independence Day has become absolutely different for us. We now understand even more how incredible independence is for every single country.
“It’s very important for us to keep our independence, to keep our borders. And I hope that every single country will be safe because independence is something that every single country should have.”
While Ukrainians living in Swindon are celebrating Independence Day through Ukraine Fest, they are also showing resilience, pride and cultural identity.
This includes an appearance by former commander in Ukraine’s 32nd mechanised brigade, Grinchenko Volodymyr Mykolayovych, who helped evacuate civilians in Chernihiv at the start of the war and who was awarded the Golden Cross for his actions.
He will be speaking in honour of Ukrainian soldiers before leading into a minute’s silence, the raising of the Ukrainian flag and the Ukrainian national anthem.
“The feeling from the Ukrainians I've spoken to is that of fear and uncertainty”, said Kris Talikowski, Vice-Chair of Swindon Welcomes Ukraine.
“I think President Trump does not help matters at all because his opinion on what's going on in global politics changes depending on who he's talking to and that gives complete uncertainty as to what will happen next.
“I'm very glad European leaders have rallied behind Zelensky and Ukraine. And I think that gives confidence to Ukrainians in this country that at least Europe will continue to back them for as long as it takes.”
UkraineFest will also feature a variety of Ukrainian arts and crafts, music, dance and traditional dishes.
At the moment, there are roughly 500 Ukrainians living in Swindon.
“This isn’t just a cultural festival, it’s a message”, added Mr Talikowski.
“We shine a light on a war that has not ended, on families still suffering, on a nation still fighting. To President Zelensky: hold firm, seek peace, but don’t surrender land. To Putin: you will never change who Ukrainians are, and to the world: stand with us.”
The festival is taking place from 12pm to 7pm and is free to attend.