On Saturday (24/08), a crowd gathered in front of King’s College to celebrate the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

The commemoration was organised by the Cambridge-based Centre for Ukrainian Heritage, Art, and Music (HAM), which placed Ukrainian and Union Jack flags in front of King’s College Chapel, on King’s Parade.

Attendees experienced a “creative blend of dance, music, and pantomime,” according to Councillor Nadya Lokhmotova, who grew up in Ukraine before moving to Cambridge in 2009.

Videos on the Ukrainian HAM Centre’s Facebook page showed supporters in traditional Ukrainian clothing and Ukrainian flags singing, dancing, and acting to Ukrainian music.

Decorations, including models of sunflowers — the national flower of Ukraine, often associated with peace — served as a backdrop to the event, while demonstrators held placards calling for onlookers to “Stand with Ukraine until it wins”.

The demonstration also saw a series of historical Ukrainian plays, including stories of 11th-century princesses, performed by amateur Ukrainian actors, some of whom had fled from the war in Ukraine.

Many young Ukrainians played key roles in the performances, including 19-year-old Vlad who previously survived 90 days in Russian captivity.

Vlad was separated from his family at a checkpoint on 8 April 2022 while attempting to flee. During his captivity, he was only able to speak to his father six times.

Kept in a single cell in a prison for over 40 days, he was forced to clean the floor of the interrogation room. “I could hear people shouting, and when I cleaned the room I could see bloodstains,” he told The Guardian.

The event reflects the ongoing support for Ukraine across Cambridge, with the town holding a vigil for the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the nation earlier this year.

The Cambridge University Library also recently expressed their support for Ukraine in a display of books that had been damaged by missiles during an attack on Kharkiv on 23 May after they were donated by the Ukrainian Institute for Culture.

Twin sisters Solomia and Sofiia Artemchuk of the Hospitallers Battalion also shared their experiences as combat medics on the frontline, speaking about the need for continued medical and financial support for the Ukrainian cause.

The sisters told the crowd: “Ukrainians are often referred to as an unbreakable nation. We are strong, it’s true, but unfortunately we are also breakable. Any person can be broken and destroyed; it’s only a matter of time. So, we really do need you and your support.”

Lokhmotova described the speech from the Artemchuk sisters as a “powerful” moment, adding: “Their stories were a poignant reminder of the vital importance of support at both governmental and individual levels.”

The event received “strong support from the British and international friends,” with guests including Daniel Zeichner MP and Executive Councillor for Communities Rachel Wade.

The celebrations were not only limited to Cambridge, with many cities across the country marking the anniversary. The UK government encouraged members of the public to demonstrate their solidarity with Ukrainians by celebrating the day along with them, and by joining the social media campaign #MakeNoiseForUkraine.