ON SUNDAY afternoon (April 3), Christian Aid organised a simultaneous prayer vigil in towns and communities across the UK in support of peace and the people of Ukraine.

In Llandudno this was organised by the rector, the Reverend Andrew Sully, as president of the Llandudno Cytun (Churches Together), with the support of members of the small Ukraine community, led by Helen Denning and supported by Dela Miron and Olha Piddubna Moss.

It was attended by several Llandudno councillors, symbolising the community’s support, and the mayor, Cllr Harry Savile, thanked all of those involved at the close of the event.

Helen’s family live in the Kyiv area and have all elected to stay: some in order to defend their homeland, and others to take care of elderly relatives who are unable to flee the awful situation surrounding the city.

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She also has a cousin living in Donbass in the east who has been devastated by Vladimir Putin’s indiscriminate response.

The event opened with music from Ukraine, as Ukrainian flags waved proudly in the wind.

Prayers in both English and Welsh focussed on the needs of those defending their homeland in Ukraine and the plight of the many refugees fleeing the country.

Prayers for the Russian people and President Putin were included, that they would move towards acknowledging the need for a peaceful end to the crisis.

Prayer, too, was offered for those in North Wales coming forward to help with supporting the Ukrainian refugees beginning to arrive in this country.

This was endorsed by the singing of “Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”, and the event closed with the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.

The central church in the town, Holy Trinity, has opened itself daily from 12-1pm for prayers for Ukraine, with people welcome to attend on a drop-in basis.

If you would like to help, please contact office@link-international.org.