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Valencia Local Heroes: Natalya Solonynka Of Ruzafa’s Liverpool Bar Doing Her Bit For Ukraine

March 4, 2022
Eugene Costello
107 Comments

Natalya Solonynka is one half of the couple who own and run the fabulous English-style pub in Ruzafa, Liverpool Bar, along with Valencian husband Amadeo Garcia. Eugene Costello went to talk to her about her extraordinary appeal to help her countrymen in Ukraineā€¦

Natalya is Ukrainian and like so many of us, has been appalled by the events unfolding in her home country.

Last night, a convoy of trucks departed Valencia bringing much-needed emergency supplies to Natalyaā€™s fellow countrymen. Natalya tells me that when they return empty, having deposited the parcels, the plan is to keep going. This ā€œwarā€ (read ā€œinvasionā€) shows no signs of stopping. Just today came predictions of four million Ukrainian refugees being displaced, while Russia has been targeting Europeā€™s largest nuclear station. 

A fire started at the Zaporizhzhia plant after it was shelled by Russian troops, Ukrainian officials say.

The humanitarian need is immense

Russia took control of Europeā€™s largest nuclear power station in Ukraine after shelling it relentlessly. And civilians are being bombed and strafed in scenes reminiscent of World War II. The humanitarian need is immense.

Many are taking shelter underground, without heating or cooking facilities. 

ā€œThe situation in Ukraine could become ā€˜Europe’s largest refugee crisis this centuryā€™ with more than 600,000 refugees believed to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries so far,ā€ the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said this week.

Experts predict that figure is likely to rise ten-fold in the coming weeks and months.

Natalya is determined to help her people back home. Which is why she started this Ukrainian appeal in Valencia

Says Natalya: ā€œThere are many here in Valencia who already know of the convoys organised by associations such as Plast, the Ukrainian Scouts Association. They have a base in Campanar where they are collecting medical supplies, food and clothes to take to Ukraine.

ā€œThere is also the Ukraine Association in Benimaclet collecting for convoys, again seeking food and warm clothes.ā€

From Ruzafa With Love

So where does Natalya come in?

ā€œWe wanted to do our bit, to provide a collection point here in Ruzafa,ā€ she says. 

ā€œIf people have cars, sure, they can go to Campanar or Benimaclet.

Liverpool Bar Ruzafa Ā© PAUL KNOWLES / VALENCIA LIFE
Writing wrongs: Eugene Costello interviewing Natalya Solonynka of Liverpool Bar about her Ukrainian appeal in Valencia Ā© PAUL KNOWLES / VALENCIA LIFE

ā€œBut many of our regulars, friends and neighbours do not have cars here in Ruzafa, but want to help. We are bridging that gap by designating Liverpool Bar as a collection point. We then take everything donated up there once a week.ā€

Indeed, I have arrived at 6pm, an hour before Liverpool Bar officially opens, and there is already a queue of people on foot carrying bags and parcels to donate. They are at the back of the bar, and throughout our interview, there is a steady stream of neighbours filing past us to deposit their supplies.

Natalya smiles, and says, ā€œWe are so touched by the generosity of people here in Valencia. They are bringing food and clothes, and we take it all up to Plast or the Ukrainian Association. 

ā€œPeople have been so good,ā€ she adds, dabbing away tears. 

ā€œMany people here in Ruzafa donā€™t have cars. And even the ones that do, maybe they are working and have to look after children, so maybe they donā€™t have time. So we are happy to do this.

Three trucks left Valencia last night but Natalya is keen to emphasise that the need continues. More convoys will keep departing Valencia as the long as the dread, chill need is there.

ā€œPlease continue to help,ā€ says Natalya. ā€œThis invasion will not stop tomorrow.ā€

To each according to their need…

I ask what the priorities are.

Natalya tells me that they need first-aid medicine, food ā€“ especially food for children and babies ā€“ “clothes and warm bedding for babies, are the most important right now, because babies are being born in underground places without heating,ā€ says Natalya.

And, she says, food for adults as well, especially canned goods and food that is ready to eat. 

ā€œPasta is no good because you need to cook it, and many people have no access to cooking facilities,ā€ she points out.

Natalyaā€™s own family are from Lviv in the west of Ukraine, close to the Polish border and have not ā€“ as yet ā€“ borne the brunt of Russian aggression.

ā€œFor the moment, thanks to God, Lviv is relatively quiet, at least for now. I suppose it is because the Russians are concentrating on the east, that they pretend is Russian territory, and Kyiv, because it is the capital.ā€

For the moment, Natalyaā€™s region is considered too far away to target, though she takes little hope from that.

ā€œWhat we have seen from Putin, he ran into more opposition than he expected,ā€ she says with evident pride for her countrymen. ā€œBut for sure, if he could attack us, he would.ā€

For now, she says, it is eastern Ukraine that is suffering the most.

ā€œCities like Kharkiv and Mariupol,ā€ she says. ā€œAnd they are bombing civilian targets, houses and flats where people live. When they say they are focusing on military targets, it is a huge lie.

ā€œThey are even hitting hospitals and do not care if they kill women and children. In the night, I read that in Konotop, Russian soldiers entered and ordered everyone to leave their underground shelters, and go back up so they would become a human shield.ā€

You can make a difference

She finishes by saying, what Putin is doing is no different to what Hitler did.

Amadeoā€™s views on Putin are probably not suitable for me to publish. Suffice it to say that he has festooned the signage at the front of the bar with banners saying, ā€œPutin killerā€. 

The Liverpool Bar Ruzafa Ā© PAUL KNOWLES / VALENCIA LIFE
Determination united: Amadeo and Natalya at Liverpool Bar Ruzafa – Ukrainian appeal in Valencia Ā© PAUL KNOWLES / VALENCIA LIFE

His proposal for what should happen to Putin himself certainly cannot be published but call to mind the ignominious ends of Mussolini, Gaddafi and Ceucescu.  

Natalya thanks me for my time and clasps my hand, saying, ā€œThank you so much for helping to share our appeal. I do not wish to be drawn into the political side of everything ā€“ I just cannot stand by while my people are being killed and starving.ā€

Truly, a Valencia local heroā€¦

ā€¢ Liverpool Bar, Carrer de Sueca, 74, 46006 ValĆØncia, Valencia; +34 144 278; Wednesday to Friday, 7pm ā€“ 3:30am, Saturday 5pm ā€“ 3:30am; But you can help this Ukrainian appeal in Valencia and drop off emergency supplies an hour before opening

107 thoughts on “Valencia Local Heroes: Natalya Solonynka Of Ruzafa’s Liverpool Bar Doing Her Bit For Ukraine”

  1. The sign “Russos Asesino” in the picture is deeply offensive to all the Russians here in Spain supporting Ukraine. At the demonstration last week there was a big percentage of the crowd from Russia. Dividing people is what Putin wants.

  2. Any country that trades with russia from now on should be regarded as a enemy of freedom while they occupy the Ukraine. To the people of the Ukraine even if they occupy your country keep on fighting any way you can make them pay a severe price for their stupidity .

  3. This article is dispicable anti Russian propoganda. It is factually incorrect as to what is currently happening in Ukraine, fails to mention the atrocities commited against the Russian speaking people of the Donbass over the past eight years at the hands of Ukrainean neo nazis, and fails to acknowledge that the arms dealing US, UK and NATO between them conned the Ukraine into provoking Russia into taking military action to defend itself against further NATO expansion, and protect Russian people in the Donbass from further persecution.
    People need to wake up and not fall for the hate Russia propoganda that has taken over the EU.

  4. The Ukrainean people are victims of their own corrupt government, and the US, UK and NATO alliance.
    The Russian people are also victims of same unprovoked, US, UK and NATO aggressors against them.
    The EU people are victims of their own EU Parliament and also victims of their own gross stupidity!!!

  5. Hola Natalya
    Si conoces familias ukrainian que necesitan un habitaciĆ³n, llamame. Podemos dar la bienvenida a alguien necesita.
    Mi nĆŗmero es : +33-6-86-17-41-60
    Que te vaya bien
    Coco

  7. With respect, it is you that is pumping out propaganda while Putin is sending planes and missiles to bomb civilian targets but thank you for your comments.

    Regards,
    Eugene

  8. It says Russian killers and refers to Putin’s government, with respect, not that all Russians are killers. I know that this is not their view, having interviewed them, when they explicitly talked of brave Russians being imprisoned for demonstrating against the war on the streets of Moscow, St Petersburg and elsewhere.

    Best,
    Eugene

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