Families in Shropshire celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day
Many Ukrainian families across the country are celebrating this year's Independence Day very differently from last.
Today marks 31 years since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union, six months since the country was invaded by Russia.
Despite being displaced far from home, Ukrainian families across the county are gathering to celebrate the occasion.
Some of Shropshire's 400 Ukrainian refugees joined Shropshire Council staff to attend the sunflower fields at Little Wytheford Farm in Shawbury.
Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said: “It’s been really lovely to meet Ukraine families at Little Wytheford Farm, and to speak to those who we’ve been supporting.
“We continue to offer a warm welcome to our new residents from Ukraine. As part of our continued support for Ukrainian people we thought being amongst the Sunflower fields – the national flower of Ukraine – as a symbol of hope for the future on this significant day."
Ukrainians in the south of the county will be celebrating tonight with a special event at Bitterley Village Hall, near Ludlow, by sharing national dishes and playing Ukrainian music.
Telford's Southwater One and Shrewsbury's Theatre Severn will be lit up in yellow and blue, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, to show the county’s solidarity with Ukraine.
People are being encouraged to show their support for the Ukrainian people on their Independence Day by displaying an image of sunflowers in their windows and using the hashtags #SunflowersForUkraine and #StandforFreedom.
