THE Ukrainian flag will be raised at County Hall in Dorchester on Saturday, 24 August to mark 33 years since Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Ukrainians who have made their home in Dorset will also be honouring their country's annual Independence Day and local groups across Dorset will be holding events in the community to mark the anniversary.

Grains of Hope, a new Ukrainian group made up of families living in the county, will perform at Borough Gardens in Dorchester, 11am- 2pm, where they will share their homeland culture with the community that has welcomed them.

The event is organised by Help and Kindness with support from the town council as well as local organisations.

Everyone is welcome to attend, and there will be Ukrainian food on offer, musical and theatrical performances, dances, crafts and souvenirs and much more.

Shaftesbury Refugee Group will also be also hosting a Ukraine Independence Day event on Saturday 24 at Gillingham Social Club, 4pm – 8pm.

Maryna Dovbysh, a Ukrainian refugee who now works for Help and Kindness in Dorset, said: "It's difficult to convey in words the grief from the loss of so many people, civilians and soldiers, the destruction of our cities, villages, nature, and the lives of millions of people.

"Ukrainians bravely continue to fight every day and the Russian aggression and war crimes will never be forgotten.

"On Independence Day, 24 August, we want to gather, because we are stronger together, and we want to pay homage to our native country. We also want to thank the communities that have welcomed us and invite everyone to join us for the celebration at the Borough Gardens in Dorchester."

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine escalated in 2022, Dorset has welcomed hundreds of Ukrainian refugees, and The Homes for Ukraine scheme, administered by Dorset Council alongside other organisations, has seen over 400 local residents opening their homes and offering accommodation to families from the war-torn country.

Cllr Ryan Hope, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Culture and Community Engagement at Dorset Council, said, "We continue to stand with all those affected by the horrific events which have taken place in Ukraine over the past 2 and a half years.

"Dorset has a proud history of welcoming new arrivals at times of crisis, offering homes and support to people escaping the horrors of war, and I am grateful to local people who have shown true community spirit and willingness to help others by welcoming Ukrainian people into their homes and our communities.

"We will raise the Ukrainian flag to send a clear message of support, especially to those Ukrainians who have chosen to make our county their home in the past years."

Natalie, a lawyer from Ukraine and her son Volodymyr, age 6, arrived in Dorset two years ago, fleeing from a city occupied by Russia.

She said: "We never imagined that we would end up in a country that would welcome us so warmly.

"We are endlessly grateful to the local community for the understanding and support we have received. I am very thankful for the care shown to my son at school. He was 3 when the war started, and it is a pleasure to see how he is growing and learning in a safe environment."

As the war sadly continues, the council is appealing for more host families to come forward as many Ukrainians already in the county need to move on from their initial sponsorship arrangement or are looking for more independent accommodation.

If you are interested in hosting, or have suitable accommodation to let, contact the council on [email protected]

For more information on the resettlement scheme and how you can help, visit Dorset Council's Homes for Ukraine webpage.