RESIDENTS of Newton Abbot have been encouraged to show their support for Ukraine by taking part in a ceremony of respect on Wednesday August 24.

The event will mark the besieged country’s Independence Day and take place at St Leonard’s Tower from 3.30pm.

Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag will be flown and Mayor Cllr Carol Bunday is due to give a speech, followed by the Ukrainian National Anthem and Spiritual Anthem of Ukraine.

Later in the day, Ukrainian nationals will be invited to a barbecue, organised by Newton Abbot Community Interest Company and Rotary Newton Abbot.

Lynn McElheron, Chair of Newton Abbot CIC, said: ‘We are delighted to be working with others to mark Ukrainian Independence Day in Newton Abbot.

‘We hope that the events we have planned will provide Ukrainian guests in the local area with an opportunity to reflect and remember their friends and family back home.’

Rotary President Jeremy Newcombe said: ‘Newton Abbot Rotary are pleased to support the CIC and to help welcome our guests from Ukraine.

‘This must be a difficult time for Ukrainian families to be away from home and their loved ones.

‘We share their concerns and offer our help and support.’

Ukraine’s blue and yellow flag was first adopted in 1848 but replaced during the Soviet period with another bearing the hammer and sickle.

The original flag’s re-adoption in 1992 cemented Ukraine’s position as an independent country, a status now threatened by the war with Russia.

Last month, Newton Abbot Town Council voted to fly the Ukrainian flag on the country’s independence day.

Mayor Cllr Carol Bunday said: ‘Individuals in our community are doing what they can to assist refugees and victims, despite having to cope with their own cost of living crises and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

‘If we, as a Town Council, can at least make this gesture of support to Ukraine and all those trying to make a terrible situation better, then it’s something we are delighted to do.’

Rotarian Keith Smith, who was one of the Rotary team who took supplies to Ukraine, said: ‘We feel it is so important to show our continuing support and unity with the people of Ukraine.’