A MOTHER who fled to Powys when Russia declared war on Ukraine has been baking cakes named after her home country’s cities and sending funds raised from their sales back east to help those left behind.
Svitlana Frolova was forced to flee her homeland along with seven-year-old son Pavlo and her mother Soya, but has found a second one in Llanwrtyd Wells – where her cakes are now being sold in Caffi Sosban.
Svitlana came to the UK’s smallest town from Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second largest city, in May to escape the fighting, accompanied by her young son and her mother.
She met and spoke to Lindsey Greenough, one of the owners of Caffi Sosban, about the possibility of making and selling Ukrainian cakes in store; Lindsey immediately agreed.
Each cake is named after a Ukrainian city and all profits raised through their sales at the popular Irfon Terrace eatery are given to Svitlana, who then sends the money directly to a group of volunteers back in Kharkiv; they use the vital funds to buy food and supplies for the elderly population who remain in Ukraine.
Svitlana, 42, jumped straight into action when she arrived, firstly getting a job at the Neuadd Arms hotel. Soon enough the idea to raise funds through making cakes was cooked up.
“I really love baking. I baked the first few cakes for the hotel where I work. And then Caffi Sosban opened and colleagues said that maybe I could bake for them,” said Svitlana.
“That's how the idea came up to earn money not for myself, but to help my Ukrainian friends.
“I offered to cook cakes for Lindsey, the money from the sale is given to me and I immediately send this to volunteers in Kharkiv.
“In my free time, I come to the cafe and cook according to the recipes that I used at home for relatives and friends. Ukrainian names of cakes are not familiar to the locals, so I decided that I will give them names of Ukrainian cities. Already I made Kharkiv, Kherson, Mariupol, Odessa and Lviv cakes.”
Svitlana often has the help of her glamorous assistant in the kitchen, as Pavlo paints small Ukraine flags that accompany the cakes.
She says she felt a duty to help those left behind, including husband Denis. “Helping is now the main goal for Ukrainians. I can't just live in safety and understand that there is a real hell at home,” she added.
“When I started baking cakes for the cafe, I understood that it would not be a lot of money, but I have a lot of volunteer friends in Kharkiv.
“Someone helps old people and buys food, someone helps the army, someone helps animals. So, any amount can help. I bake about one cake a week for the cafe, more often if I have time. This month (September) I have already sent about £200 to my friends in Kharkiv. I hope to continue doing this.”
Svitlana has reflected on how much life has changed for her and Pavlo – who is attending Llanwrtyd’s Ysgol Dolafon – since war broke out in February. From sheltering in her mother’s basement and saying she “will never forget” hearing the bombs exploding nearby, she is now sheltering in the peace and tranquillity of Britain’s smallest town, nestled at the foot of the Cambrian Mountains
“Denis is in Kharkiv. Every night he sleeps in the basement of the house because Kharkiv is shelled almost every day several times,” said Svitlana, who worked as a journalist for a local TV news station back home.
“Rockets arrive at residential buildings, schools, kindergartens, universities. The city is badly damaged but people continue to live there. My husband works from home, the state does not call everyone into the army so that people who have jobs can support the country's economy.
“We call him every day and talk via video link. My son and I miss him very much.
“We lived the first week of the war in the basement of my mother's house. Fighters were flying over us and bombs were exploding very close, I will never forget it. Therefore, if my cakes can somehow help those people who stay at home and struggle, I will help.
“The worst thing I think most Ukrainians experience is not being able to plan. We now cannot know when and how this war will end and when we will be able to return home. And whether our houses will be intact.
“The only thing we are sure of is that we will win. That's what I tell my son: we can't lose because good always wins over evil.”
Svitlana admits swapping Kharkiv and its 1.5 million inhabitants for Llanwrtyd and its less than 1,000 was daunting at first. But the warmest of Welsh welcomes has left her feeling like she’s found another home, having been taken in by guesthouse owners Bernice Benton and her husband John.
“We arrived here in the middle of May, in our car. Me, my mother and son,” she said.
“I heard from friends about the Home for Ukrainians programme and decided to try to find a family that would shelter us. I went to Facebook, wrote a big post about myself and that I was looking for kind people, and just a few days later I met Bernie and John.
“We talked on Zoom for only a few minutes, but we immediately realised this was our family. We completed the necessary documents, received permission to enter the UK and drove off. In a few days we covered all of Europe and crossed the ferry to England.
“At first I was a little scared that the town is so small. I am from Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, but we were so warmly welcomed here.
“For Pavlo, this is a great school and the people are very friendly and everyone helps. Pavlo was brought school things, including toys and a bicycle. This town has already become a second home for us, and Bernie and John are definitely my family.
“Pavlo goes to school and his English is getting better every day. My mother is retired and while I work, she helps me look after him.”
Llanwrtyd residents have been very supportive of Ukraine already this year, raising nearly £3,000 from a charity buffet held at Victoria Hall which involved music, a raffle and an auction of prizes provided by businesses and other members of the community.
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