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Ukrainian festival 'a celebration of resilience'

Sandra Zhukova Two women with blonde hair wearing traditional yellow dress and one of them has a garland of flowers in her hair. They are standing in a church and one of them is holding a plate of food.Sandra Zhukova
Sandra Zhukova (left) said she had enjoyed bringing together the artists for the festival

A Ukrainian festival that has found a new home in the UK has promised a "celebration of resilience", featuring talented refugees.

For 20 years, the International Arts Festival Ukraine was held in its native land, but due to the war, it has moved to Hereford this year - it will be the first time it has been staged abroad.

One of the organisers, Sandra Zhukova, who fled to the city with her daughter when war broke out, said it had been "enjoyable and exciting" to bring together all the performers.

She said they wanted to show they could "hold on and move on and save the culture no matter what".

The free event will be held on Saturday, just outside St Peter's Church, and will include singers, musicians, dancers and poets, performing in traditional and modern styles.

Sandra Zhukova A gathering of people in traditional dress with their arms in the air, standing on a road with trees in the distance behind them.Sandra Zhukova
A range of artists are due to perform at the festival in Hereford, which is the first time it will be held outside of Ukraine

Ms Zhukova first came to Hereford in 2014, when Russia invaded Crimea, but when the conflict ended, she returned to live in the capital, Kiev, only to flee in 2020 when the Russians invaded again.

She said she never knew Hereford existed before she came to the UK, but now loves living there and said it was the "perfect backdrop for this cultural event".

The festival has been arranged by the St Peter and St James Ukraine Project, which is funded by Herefordshire Council.

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