IT’S lunchtime at the Ukrainian Cafe in Bromsgrove, and the place is buzzing.
And no wonder – the food on offer would delight even the most jaded palate and it is all at a price that will not break the bank.
For instance, your reporter has just eaten a bowl of borscht that has to be the best soup he’s ever tasted.
Of course there’s a serious side to these culinary delights. Independent Ukraine was invaded by its neighbour Russia just over three years ago, sparking a desperate battle for the country’s survival.
Britain is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainian people, offering a sanctuary to those fleeing the war and both Bromsgrove and Redditch have opened their arms to welcome them.
The Ukrainian Cafe in Bromsgrove, situated at the Methodist Centre on Stratford Road, offers local residents not only an opportunity to try the cuisine of the country but also raise vital funds to send humanitarian aid to the frontline.
Svitlana Hlovatska is a trained accountant working in Kyiv but now helps lead the team of Ukrainian women in the kitchen at the Methodist Centre, as well as working as a cleaner in a local school.
She said: “We are so grateful to the English people for helping us, and sharing their homes with us.
“And we want so much for people in Bromsgrove and Redditch to enjoy our wonderful Ukrainian food and learn more about each other’s culture.”
Svitlana’s husband Miroslav is a first responder in Kyiv and she fears for the danger he faces under there barrage of Russian missiles and drones.
She said: “I don’t know what he is doing from day to day or the risks he is taking but it is all for our people.”
Serhii Umanets came to the UK three years ago when the Russians invaded, over-running his town, Vasilievka, in the Zaporizhzhia region. Ironically he did his military service with the Soviet Army and now finds himself on the opposite side.
He said: “My family has been completely broken up by the war.
“Some of them are now in Poland, some in other parts of Ukraine and some in occupied territory.
“I miss my flat in Vasilievka, but we are so grateful to the people of Bromsgrove and Redditch for offering us shelter until the day we can return.”
Search for ‘Ukrainian Cafe in Worcestershire’ on Facebook for more information.
