AMIDST the ongoing Russian invasion, people from all over the world took a moment to celebrate the 31st Ukrainian Independence Day.
In Carlisle, Ukrainian nationals and supporters have gathered at Brunton Park to mark independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Ukrainian mother-of-two, Alla Stocia, arranged the celebration on August 24 at The Neils Sports Centre with the help of local businesses and Carlisle United Community Sports trust - all to the backdrop of dancing to Ukrainian music, food, facepainting and games.
READ MORE: Carlisle's Polish shop owner gets goods to Ukraine border
"We've had a great event today, people laughed, people danced and we had tears. You couldn't have this event without tears, tears were expected because in our hearts we remember our family and friends still in Ukraine.
"All our Ukrainian communities are very grateful to their local communities and everyone who has welcomed them," she said.
"There's martial law in Ukraine today which has stopped a lot of celebrations - people have been asked not to gather as there were expectations that Russia would use the day as opportunity to attack.
"It may the be the 31st Independence Day but Ukraine has a long, long history of fighting independence and this has always been a big celebration for Ukrainians - it's been very difficult for the country not to celebrate," she said.
Amongst the attendees was Andrew Bezuszko from Carlisle, whose Ukrainian father settled in England along with 30,000 Ukrainian nationals after the Second World War.
Andrew, who jumped to action in sending goods to Ukraine since the invasion, has also recently opened up his home for a newly arrived Ukrainian student.
"With my dad being Ukrainian, my wife and I both felt duty-bound to help the situation, this girl already had her sister staying in Annan already, so it was to bring them together - there was a lot of toing and froing with visas and the likes, but she's settled in quite well and we've managed to get her a job in the town centre - she's loving it," he said.
Andrew, who has family south of Lviv, has found it distressing to hear some of the stories of his family fighting on the front-line - his family are currently preparing for what they believe will be a 'hard winter', with fears that Russia may cut off gas into Ukraine.
"I think when it first started I said to my wife, quite tearfully, it's going to be a week or two weeks for the army to go right through Ukraine and stop at the Polish border and it'll be a lifelong fight after that.
"However, the 42 million people left in Ukraine, they have showed one spirit and it's an independent spirit, and Putin has found that hard to swallow," he said.
The venue was provided by Carlisle United Community Sports trust, who also made arrangements for a face painter and facilitated a football game for the kids on the day.
Carlisle One World Centre funded a sport entertainer for children, DJ Sparky (David O'Callaghan) who provided the music and Ian Brown from Bridge End Inn in Dalston lent the outdoor cooking equipment - to which Alla's husband and owner of Alex's Pasta bar, took up cheffing duties on the day.
£320 was also kindly donated to help with costs of the day from Cranemakers pub, after they held a Ukrainian charity evening on July 29.
READ MORE: Ukrainian 'grateful' for British generosity but Government 'could make it easier'
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