Ukrainian refugees fleeing the ongoing crisis in their home country will be among the guests of honour at a ceremony today to mark a Ukranian Cross from the Second World War being given Grade II listed status.

Refugees from areas including Kharkov, Kyiv and Lviv will meet with dignitaries from the UK and Ukraine at the site of cross in Mylor Bridge, including the Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine to the UK, Taras Krykun, and UK Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston.

The cross is being granted listed status to recognise its significance as a symbol of Ukrainian gratitude for refuge in Cornwall following the Second World War and will serve as a reminder of the impact of wars on displaced communities throughout history.

It comes as the UK continues to welcome refugees fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Thanks people offering their homes to Ukrainians through the Ukraine Family Scheme, 155,600 visas have been granted with 95,400 Ukrainians arriving safely in the UK so far – including more than 640 in Cornwall.

Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “This poignant Ukrainian Cross is an important symbol of Britain’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Just as we welcomed those fleeing Soviet Russia 75 years ago, the whole country stands alongside Ukrainians escaping the atrocities of Putin’s war today.”

Vadym Prystaiko, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, said: "The United Kingdom has been unwavering in its support and welcome for the people of Ukraine and we are thankful it continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with us.

"The Grade II listing of this cross is a beautiful gesture of companionship and support at a time when a new generation of Ukrainians are being forced to seek refuge in the UK."

 

The inscription on the cross Picture: Historic England

The inscription on the cross Picture: Historic England

 

Hundreds of displaced Ukrainians found themselves in Cornwall in 1947 following the Second World War. They were housed in temporary accommodation on the land opposite the cross, and in military buildings nearby, for a year before moving to permanent accommodation in surrounding villages.

Many refugees were employed locally and made an important contribution to Cornwall’s mining, fishing and farming industries.

The cross at Mylor Bridge was built a year after the refugees’ arrival in 1948, as a symbol of their gratitude and their strong Christian faith.

It bears an inscription stating: "This symbol of faith in God was erected by Ukrainians who escaping from Russian communists found refuge in England 7 June 1948." The cross was blessed by three Roman Catholic priests.

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Duncan Wilson, chief executive of Historic England, said: “The Ukrainian Cross is a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and the lives lost and displaced. It is a simple reflection of gratitude for safe refuge and fully deserves to be listed.”

At the end of the second world war and after the collapse of Nazi Germany, 11 million people were displaced including more than two million Ukrainians.

Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro, said: “Cornwall’s motto is ‘One and All’ and that encapsulates the spirit of this special place. We recognise that our neighbours are not just those near us and like us, but those distant from us and different to us.

"It was in that spirit that we welcomed Ukrainian refugees in the past, and we welcome them today in the very same spirit.”

  • The Packet will be attending the ceremony in Mylor Bridge - come back later to see more from the event.