February 20, 2025
By Harry Mottram: The Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has joined a chorus of condemnation of the USA President over his remarks about Ukraine and its president Zelenskyy being a ‘dictator.’ The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in response that Volodymyr Zelensky as a “democratically elected leader” putting down the remarks by Donald Trump. He also said it was perfectly reasonable to postpone an election due to the war with Russia. Zelensky’s five-year term was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended since martial law was declared after Russia’s invasion while his approval ratings are widely reported to be above 50%.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said: “President Trump should not be in the driving seat, deciding on Ukraine’s future without input from President Zelenskyy, the UK, or our European allies. The lies he has spouted about Zelenskyy being a “dictator” are beyond the pale and could potentially be very dangerous.
“I have always been proud of how our city has shown unwavering support for Ukraine, from Bath’s ‘Together we Stand’ concert taking place next week to our Friendship Agreement with Oleksandriya. That’s why I recently called on the UK government to follow in our example by standing with the Ukrainian people and making sure their voices are heard loud and clear in peace talks.”
The leaders of the UK’s main parties also slammed Trump. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said Zelensky was “the democratically elected leader of Ukraine who bravely stood up to Putin’s illegal invasion”. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also spoke out about ‘Trump’s lies’ and was in favour of the UK taking part with a peace keeping force.
Concert for Ukraine in Bath
From The Friends of Oleksandriya: A concert of Ukrainian music and visual art at Bath Abbey, presented by The Friends of Oleksandriya on Monday 24 February 2025, 7pm.
The programme showcases commissioned music by acclaimed composer Mariia Yaremak, brought to life by the Voices for Life choir and The Argyle String Orchestra (with Mariia Yaremak on piano), alongside a performance by vocalist Nicole Medin and live visual art by Alexandra Dikaia.
The Friends of Oleksandriya present a concert at Bath Abbey to mark the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and raise funds for the Ukrainian city of Oleksandriya. The concert is dedicated to the memory of Adam, Sonia, and Tatiana, relatives of Zhenya Shkil (founder and trustee of The Friends of Oleksandriya), who were tragically killed in a Russian airstrike in Ukraine on 7 November 2024.
The programme includes original compositions by Ukrainian composer Mariia Yaremak, performed by outstanding local musicians. The children’s choir Voices for Life will open the concert with songs in Ukrainian, followed by The Argyle String Orchestra accompanying Mariia Yaremak on piano. Ukrainian vocalist Nicole Medin will also take part in the performance.
During the concert, Ukrainian illustrator, writer, and concept artist Alexandra Dikaia will create a unique painting live on stage. This artwork will be auctioned after the event to raise further funds for Oleksandriya.The audience will hear extracts from refugee literature, offering insights into the experiences and difficulties of the Ukrainian people who sought safety abroad.
All profits from the event will be used to provide aid to the city of Oleksandriya, such as the funding of much-needed medical supplies. The Rotary Club of Bath is collecting funds on behalf of Friends of Oleksandriya, ensuring that all donations are used to purchase humanitarian aid for the city.
All seating is unreserved within each section of the Abbey. The concert is expected to conclude by 21:00, including an interval. Please note that this concert will be recorded. Tickets are available for purchase through Bath Box Office. Visit https://bathboxoffice.org.uk/
Ticket prices:
- Nave: £40
- North/South Aisle: £30
- Wall Seats: £20
- Corporation Stalls: £15
Founder and trustee of The Friends of Oleksandriya Zhenya Shkil says: “This is our third concert that always takes place on the day when normal life stopped for all of us – on the day when Putin’s army invaded my homeland. Every year, it creates an opportunity for Ukrainian refugees and Ukraine supporters in our area to gather in a holy and safe space of Bath Abbey to enjoy the beauty of Ukrainian culture and to mourn killed friends and family who were untimely taken away from us by this war. This year, I dedicate this concert to my family who were killed in Zaporizhzhia on 7th November 2024 with a glide bomb that destroyed their block and took their lives – this concert is dedicated to 1y 4m old Adam, his 27yo mum Sonya and her 68yo grandmother Tanya. God bless their souls!”
The event promises a meaningful evening of cultural immersion and community spirit, uniting performers and audience alike in support of Ukraine.
About The Friends of Oleksandriya
The Friends of Oleksandriya is a charitable association that promotes peace and friendship between communities. It believes that by working together, a difference can be made to people’s lives and a better world can be created. The team is made up of volunteers who are passionate about helping others and creating impact in the world.
Since its establishment, The Friends of Oleksandriya Charitable Association, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bath, managed to raise more than £100,000 to buy 13 7.5kW generators, a 70kW generator for the Children’s Hospital in Oleksandriya, and a 100kW generator for the Central Hospital of Oleksandriya. This provided crucial humanitarian aid when hundreds of Russian missiles caused severe damage to the infrastructure of Ukraine and the people of Oleksandriya were left without light and warmth. The Friends of Oleksandriya believe that everyone deserves access to basic human needs such as food, shelter, education, and medical care. In December 2024, Oleksandriya received a 200kVA generator from the charity for one of their hospitals, as well as over one thousand Christmas presents for children of all ages.
Visit https://www.friendsofo.co.uk/ for more information.
About Mariia Yaremak
Mariia Yaremak is a renowned Ukrainian pianist, arranger, and composer. Her music combines virtuosity with a deep emotional message, captivating audiences on the most prestigious stages in Europe and around the world. Maria’s iconic concerts convey the strength, resilience, and identity of her cultural roots. She has performed at the Royal Evening in London, the United Nations in America, and the largest cathedrals in Great Britain. Her works have been performed at the Royal Gala in London, Eurovision, Atlas Weekend, a UN-related event in Hollywood, and beyond.
Her collaborations include creating music for an orchestral performance with symphonic metal band Within Temptation and a headliner at the Atlas Festival. In addition to performing solo concerts, Mariia is also actively working on new international projects, including the launch of an orchestral album and tour. Her future projects revolve around music, cultural diplomacy, and promoting Ukraine on the global stage. Mariia has received a nomination from the UN in Ukraine as ‘Woman of the Year in Music’. For this concert at Bath Abbey, she has created a special programme of original arrangements of traditional fantasy melodies.
About Alexandra Dikaia
Alexandra Dikaia is a Ukrainian illustrator, writer, and concept artist with over fifteen years of experience in design and illustration. She is the author and illustrator of The Moonmill Fairy Tales, a children’s book that became a bestseller, with its first edition selling out in just six minutes and catching the attention of a Hollywood animation studio.
As the founder of Add Magic Academy, Alexandra has inspired over 20,000 participants through creative courses and challenges, generating more than 350,000 illustrations. She has also been a featured speaker at Women Techmakers events inspired by Google and illustrated a non-fiction book about chocolate for the prominent Staryi Lev Publishing House.
Alexandra’s art blends simplicity with profound meaning, embodying her philosophy of healthy minimalism and creativity as a path to self-discovery.
About Voices for Life
Building on what it has achieved since 2021, Voices for Life works with schools and the community to provide music and wellbeing opportunities for children. Voices for Life’s mission is to improve children’s lives by inspiring them to be happy and confident through music in a way that makes everyone want to sing, smile, and dance. It takes children on a journey of self-discovery and growth through the power of music, creativity, and performance, providing high quality music and wellbeing projects which foster their confidence, skills, and capabilities. Voices for Life provide performance opportunities through the creation of original music and lyrics, complementing the school music curriculum to create additional music experiences. It focuses on wellbeing and a healthy childhood through targeted learning and development, and encourages community collaboration.
About Nicole Medin
A classically trained soprano vocalist of Ukrainian and Spanish heritage, Nicole Medin has captivated audiences since the tender age of eight. In the face of the Russian invasion, her artistic spirit has flourished, leading her to spearhead over 60, both performing and creatively directing. Driven by a profound desire to share the Ukrainian soul, Nicole’s performances aim to evoke the resilience and integrity of the Ukrainian people. In summer 2024, her leadership shone through as she successfully pitched for the role of the first Ukrainian Youth Ambassador. In this capacity, she served as an interpreter and spearheaded initiatives fostering unity among refugees in Bath and North East Somerset.
Currently pursuing her final year at Kingston University, London, Nicole seamlessly integrates her Ukrainian cultural identity into her design work. As the costume designer for this event, she has meticulously crafted unique, traditional prints that adorn the performers’ belts and cuffs. Each design is a poignant reflection of the artist’s individual identity, creating a visual tapestry that celebrates Ukrainian heritage.
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