A CONCERT in support of Ukraine was held in Penmaenmawr last weekend, raising more than £2,000 to help the war-torn country.

There were 11 performances at the concert, including dancing, singing, violinists, pianist, a children's choir, a display of national Ukrainian clothes, and demonstrations of interesting facts about Ukraine.

The concert was arranged with the assistance of Christopher Williams, town councillor and the mayor of Penmaenmawr, and Penmaenmawr Historical Society and Museum.

For a few minutes during the concert, the lights were switched off and everyone sat in the dark in support of the latest events in Ukraine when people have to live without electricity, gas and water.

At the beginning and end of the evening, the guests were also treated to Ukrainian dishes, tea and coffee.

Visitors were able to buy food to take home, as well as badges, stamps and other Ukrainian souvenirs.

The evening ended with a raffle from the mayor and many kind words.

Money raised will be sent to Ukraine for the purchase of surgical equipment, and other essential medicines to be used by field hospital surgeons.

Larysa Yuschenko, who presented the concert, who is from Kremenchuk, in the Poltavska region of Ukraine, but originally from the Ukrainian city of Sumy.

She has been living in Penmaenmawr with her children for seven months.

Larysa said: “It was an incredible evening in which we remembered the victims of the Holodomor (starvation), which was artificially created by the Soviet Union in 1932-1933 in Ukraine, the memory of which falls on November 26.

“We also tried to reproduce one of the realities facing people today in Ukraine - a blackout.

“All of the lights in the hall were turned off and the audience turned on the torches on their phones as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, where the energy infrastructure is currently destroyed.

“It was a fantastically moving evening for everyone and we would love the opportunity to repeat the performance in other places in Wales.

“I would like to express a big thank you to the mayor of Penmaenmawr and the Historical Society and Museum for facilitating this event and providing all possible assistance."

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Christopher Williams, town councillor and mayor of Penmaenmawr, added: “Perhaps the most moving part was when the Ukrainian children gathered on stage and sang to us a song of hope to one day be at home again.

“Most of the audience were reduced to tears.

“The event was a phenomenal success, greatly appreciated by the people of Penmaenmawr who have taken their new Ukrainian friends to their hearts.”

Helen Denning, a resident of Llandudno originally from Ukraine, added her delight at the success of the concert.

She said: “We were so fortunate to be offered a lot of help from the museum and wonderful volunteers of the Penmaenmawr Historical Society where Larysa works.

“The museum was happy to sell the tickets for us, and it worked out so well that the tickets were sold out even before the concert.

“The concert achieved a wonderful sum of £2,022, and all of these funds will be used to support our brave defenders, providing them with essential provisions, including medication and winter clothes.

“It was our third concert with the same theme, the first one being presented in August in Llandudno, the second in October in Prestatyn, with slight variations of the participants depending on their availability.

“Thank you very much to everyone who attended our event, made cakes, brought raffles. Special thanks to our wonderful participants.”