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Just over three years ago, Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine turned millions of lives upside down.

Since 2022, more than ten million Ukrainians have been forced out of their homes, with nearly seven million leaving the war-torn country.

Roughly 6,000 people have moved to Wales, with around 120 now settled in Caerphilly County Borough.

In January 2024, Ukrainian refugees in Caerphilly planted trees in Morgan Jones Park, creating the Ukrainian Gratitude Orchard. It was a way of saying thank you to the people of Caerphilly for their hospitality and support.

Over the weekend, the orchard was expanded, with more trees planted during a poignant ceremony held on Saturday March 29.

More than 100 people attended the event, including Ukrainian refugees, local politicians, and residents, to celebrate the bond between Caerphilly and Ukraine – and pay tribute to the Ukrainian soldiers who have died defending their country.

There were speeches from local politicians, including Senedd Member Peredur Owen Griffiths, Caerphilly town mayor Mike Prew, and Caerphilly Council deputy leader Jamie Pritchard.

Caerphilly MS Hefin David also spoke, and read out a message on behalf of First Minister Eluned Morgan.

Other speakers included Lynn Gazal, from Climate Action Caerphilly, which played a key role in the creating the orchard, and a member of the Hong Kong Community group in Manchester, who spoke in support of Ukraine, having experienced their own struggle for democracy.

Ms Gazal went on to praise Chris O’Meara and the council’s parks team for their efforts in making the orchard a reality.

There were also speeches from Ukrainian refugees themselves, including Dariia Zhdanova, who paid tribute to her late husband – a musician who was killed defending his country’s freedom. A chestnut tree was planted in the park in his memory.

The event also saw the planting of fruit trees and sunflowers, as well as a blue-and-yellow
flowerbed representing the Ukrainian flag.

There were also children’s creative activities, poetry readings, live music, and the sealing of a community time capsule which will be opened in five years time.

‘A shared vision of unity’

The ceremony opened with a speech from Yuliia Bond, who moved to Caerphilly in 2022 following Russia’s invasion of her homeland.

Since moving to Caerphilly, mother-of-two Yuliia has become an active leader in the community, bringing together fellow Ukrainians and the wider Caerphilly community.

Yuliia said: “Today, we’re not just planting trees – we’re planting memories, stories, and a shared vision
of unity that stretches far beyond Caerphilly.

“Let this Garden of Gratitude remind the world: even in exile, we plant beauty. Even in loss, we create meaning.”

“We are not just refugees. We are artists, teachers, parents, volunteers. We carry stories of
war – but also stories of strength, of culture, of dignity.

“Even far from home, we carry Ukraine in our hearts. Even here in Wales. This is us standing as one.”

‘Truly genuine’

Following the event, where she paid tribute to her late husband, Dariia said: “I want to express my gratitude for all the words, hugs of support, and sympathy that I received during the planting of the memorial tree, under the poignant music, when everyone present united into a single chain of remembrance for all the fallen soldiers, embodied in the memory of my husband.

“My heart is overflowing with love – because it is for such a world, where there is mutual support and compassion, that Ukrainian warriors give the most precious thing – their lives.

“And it is precisely this way that any wounds begin to heal.”

Dariia continued: “During the event, I felt that together with the life-giving energies of the Earth, we were nurturing not just trees and flowers, but sending bright, meaningful thoughts and hopes into the future.

“It was incredibly beautiful, heartfelt, touching, and truly genuine.”

“We want to say thank you”

Among the Ukrainians attending the event was Olesia Miftahova, a mother-of-three who left Ukraine last year to come to Caerphilly.

Olesia, who is an artist and poet, explained to Caerphilly Observer that she had stayed in her homeland in the hope the war would end. However, after two years of war, she made the decision to relocate with her family.

Speaking about the support she has received in Wales, Olesia said: “We have really nice hosts here. They are kind people who help us with everything.

“We want to say thank you to the Welsh Government and the Welsh people for your support and your help.”

Another Ukrainian who now calls Caerphilly home is Vira, who left the capital city Kyiv with her Welsh fiance, Chris, six months ago.

“I’m very happy to be here in this beautiful country,” Vira told Caerphilly Observer. “The people are very kind and lovely, and always supportive.

“Love is the reason for my relocation, but also the beautiful traditions and the culture of this country. I love this country and its language, so I have a lot of reasons to be here.”

Vira described Wales, and the UK as a whole, as a “very supportive country” and continued: “Thank you very much for sharing your homes with us.”

‘Hope, solidarity, and comradeship’

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Peredur Owen Griffiths, who represents South Wales East, attended the “fantastic” event. Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, he said: “It brings communities together. The welcome the Ukrainian community have had in Caerphilly and across Wales has been phenomenal.

“I hope, even though they are always going to be Ukrainian, that they’re now a little bit Welsh as well.”

He added: “Hopefully we’ll see an end to the hostilities and an end to the war. This event was all about hope, solidarity and comradeship.”

His Labour counterpart, Hefin David, said it was “an honour” to attend the event and continued: “I’m in awe of those who were forced out of their homes to come and begin a new life here; they have built a support network in each other, whilst also making themselves an integral part of our community.

“I’m very proud to know such a resilient group of people and also, proud of how Wales has truly shown up to support them. The gratitude orchard is a beautiful way of acknowledging this relationship, while allowing us all to remember Ukrainians lost in the war”.

Caerphilly town mayor Mike Prew attended on behalf of Caerphilly Town Council. He said the ceremony showed “the importance of community solidarity, the value of cross-cultural friendships, and the positive impact of local support for displaced families – and the bond between Welsh people and the nation of Ukraine”.

‘Something that you just had to witness’

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer after the ceremony, council deputy leader Jamie Pritchard said: “The key message today is one of unity.

“Caerphilly is a welcoming place, we have a long history of welcoming refugees.

“The demonstration of support for the people of Ukraine today was something that you just had to witness, and it’s so great to be involved with such a brilliant project as this.”

Cllr Pritchard also paid tribute to the hosts who have welcomed Ukrainians into their homes.

His cabinet colleague Shayne Cook, who has responsibility for housing, said: “I’d like to thank the residents of Caerphilly who continue to provide support via hosting or volunteering to those people affected by the current humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, and to the council staff who continue to dedicate their time to help those most in need.”