Editor's Picks Local Heroes NEWS Valencia

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

March 4, 2022
Eugene Costello
142 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 Ukraine…

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 Natalya’s fellow countrymen. Natalya tells me that when they return empty, having deposited the parcels, the plan is to keep going. This “war” (read “invasion”) shows no signs of stopping. Just today came predictions of four million Ukrainian refugees being displaced, while Russia has been targeting Europe’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 Europe’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. 

“The situation in Ukraine could become ‘Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century’ with more than 600,000 refugees believed to have fled Ukraine to neighbouring countries so far,” 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: “There 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.

“There is also the Ukraine Association in Benimaclet collecting for convoys, again seeking food and warm clothes.”

From Ruzafa With Love

So where does Natalya come in?

“We wanted to do our bit, to provide a collection point here in Ruzafa,” she says. 

“If people have cars, sure, they can go to Campanar or Benimaclet.

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

“But 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.”

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, “We 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. 

“People have been so good,” she adds, dabbing away tears. 

“Many people here in Ruzafa don’t have cars. And even the ones that do, maybe they are working and have to look after children, so maybe they don’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.

“Please continue to help,” says Natalya. “This invasion will not stop tomorrow.”

To each according to their need…

I ask what the priorities are.

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

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

“Pasta is no good because you need to cook it, and many people have no access to cooking facilities,” she points out.

Natalya’s own family are from Lviv in the west of Ukraine, close to the Polish border and have not – as yet – borne the brunt of Russian aggression.

“For 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.”

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

“What we have seen from Putin, he ran into more opposition than he expected,” she says with evident pride for her countrymen. “But for sure, if he could attack us, he would.”

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

“Cities like Kharkiv and Mariupol,” she says. “And 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.

“They 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.”

You can make a difference

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

Amadeo’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, “Putin killer”. 

The Liverpool Bar Ruzafa © PAUL KNOWLES / VALENCIA LIFE
Determination united: Amadeo and Natalya at Liverpool Bar Ruzafa – Ukrainian appeal in Valencia © 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, “Thank you so much for helping to share our appeal. I do not wish to be drawn into the political side of everything – I just cannot stand by while my people are being killed and starving.”

Truly, a Valencia local hero…

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

142 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 habitación, llamame. Podemos dar la bienvenida a alguien necesita.
    Mi número 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

  12. Com tanto conteúdo e artigos, alguma vez se deparou com problemas de plágio ou violação de direitos de autor? O meu site tem muito conteúdo exclusivo que eu próprio criei ou

  17. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright violation? My website has a lot of unique content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my agreement. Do you know any methods to help reduce content from being stolen? I’d definitely appreciate it.

  24. ) سأعيد زيارتها مرة أخرى لأنني قمت بوضع علامة كتاب عليها. المال والحرية هي أفضل طريقة للتغيير، أتمنى أن تكون غنيًا و

  30. UID_95859078###
    Baru-baru ini, para pemain Mahjong Wins 3 dikejutkan dengan bocoran RTP yang diklaim bisa meningkatkan peluang kemenangan secara signifikan. Banyak yang percaya bahwa informasi ini membantu mereka mendapatkan hasil yang lebih konsisten dalam permainan. Jika Anda ingin tahu lebih lanjut, cek bocoran RTP Mahjong Wins 3 hari ini dan lihat apakah strategi ini benar-benar efektif.

  46. レンコンを上手に活用して、健康的な食生活を送りましょう。再生数など、本サービスの配信にて得られたデータは続編などの企画・ “民放5社の無料見逃し配信「TVer」アプリ累計100万ダウンロード突破”.“在京民放5社共同の無料見逃し配信「TVer（ティーバー）」にブライトコーブが採用。 “民放5社、共同ネット配信”.制作番組の配信をそれぞれ開始した。陸軍通信学校 1939年 相模女子大学、相模原市立大野南中学校、県立相模台工業高校（現・

  50. Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My blog is in the exact same area of interest as yours and my users would genuinely benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks!

  51. Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.

  52. Your writing has a way of making the complex seem simple without losing any of its richness. Each idea is presented in such a way that the reader can’t help but be drawn into it, seeing things from a new perspective. You’ve made something intricate feel effortless, and that’s a true mark of skill.

  53. Our skillset in digital wallets and online transactionsmeans we’re ideally suited to tackle your QIWI wallet issues.Be assured, we use advanced techniques and keep up with the latest recovery methods.For those who’ve been affected by unauthorized transactions or issues that causeda loss of funds, you’ve got an ally in us.

  64. Kantorbola99 menawarkan pengalaman bermain slot online yang menyenangkan. Platform ini menyediakan beragam pilihan game menarik. Pemain dapat menikmati tampilan grafis berkualitas tinggi.

  66. Your confidence in us is our utmost importance. That’s whywe conduct our services with full integrityand dedication to your case.Rest easy of seeing your funds returned with ourspecialized help.

  69. Undeniably believe that which you said. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get irked while people consider worries that they plainly don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks

  70. I seriously love your website.. Great colors & theme. Did you make this website yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own personal site and would love to know where you got this from or what the theme is called. Kudos!

  74. Confused about how to go about the recovery ofyour QIWI wallet funds? Our professional advisors are on standbyaround the clock to guide you through the procedure and answer anyconcerns you might have.Working with our team, you’re opting for a dependablepartner in financial recovery.

  75. I’d like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this site. I really hope to see the same high-grade content from you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my very own site now 😉

  76. A Mutual Fund pools together a certain amount of money that is collected from different investors and the collected funds are then used to buy or invest in assets like stocks and bonds.

  82. Have you ever considered creating an e-book or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog centered on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an email.

  140. Deshalb schreibt Stiftung Warentest, dass man lt. einem deutschen Rechtsanwalt gute Chancen hat, für verlorenes Geld einen Ersatz zu erhalten. Denn nach dem deutschen Glücks­spiel­staats­vertrag ist auch die Mitwirkung an Zahlungen für illegales Glücks­spiel verboten. Diese Tatsache alleine nützt allerdings noch nichts, denn die deutschen Regeln gelten für ausländische Angebot nicht. Gemeinsam oder gegeneinander zu spielen und sich in seinem Können zu messen ist hier sehr einfach und ohne Risiko möglich.
    Die Zahlungen können nämlich erst dann richtig zugeordnet werden, wenn ein Account besteht. Nutze diese Möglichkeit, um verschiedene Spiele auszuprobieren und das für dich passende Casino zu finden. Viele Casinos bieten zudem kostenlose Versionen ihrer Spiele an, um den Einstieg zu erleichtern. Besonders Slots bieten eine breite Palette an Erfahrungen – von einfachen Spielen mit niedrigen Einsätzen bis hin zu komplexen Games, die hohe Gewinne versprechen.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/beste-online-casinos-2025-top-sicher-im-test/

  141. Schließlich bieten sie die Chance, trotz gleicher Summe der Einzahlung von einem höheren Guthaben beim Spielen zu profitieren. Bonus Codes können verschiedene Arten von Prämien beinhalten und somit beispielsweise Freispiele oder ein Bonusguthaben aktivieren. Sofern Sie einen der begehrten Codes erhalten, können Sie diesen während der Registrierung oder in Ihrem Benutzerkonto einlösen.
    Der höchstmöglich auszahlbare Betrag, der über diese Verde Casino Freispiele erhältlich ist, liegt ebenfalls bei 25 Euro. Über die gratis Freispiele können Sie Book of Sirens kennenlernen und haben sogar Chancen auf echte Gewinne im Verde Casino. Die Freispiele können meistens direkt nach der Gutschrift am Spielautomaten Book of Sirens von Spinomenal eingelöst werden.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/boomerang-casino-deutschland-test-bonus-bis-zu-500e/

  142. In der Regel sind diese Boni Teil von Willkommens- oder Anmeldeangeboten. Einen Bonus ohne Einzahlung in Höhe von 10 € zu erhalten, ist ganz einfach. Selbst wenn Sie nicht gewinnen, sammeln Sie wertvolle Erfahrungen. Kleinere, realistischere Boni sind sicherer und geben Ihnen trotzdem die Chance, Geld zu gewinnen. Es mag seltsam erscheinen, dass ein Casino Bargeld verschenkt, aber es ist eine kluge langfristige Strategie.
    Bei diesen speziellen Angeboten bekommst du entweder für die Anmeldung ein Bonusguthaben oder einfach so über das Stammkundenprogramm zusätzliches Guthaben oder Freispiele spendiert. Mit diesem kannst du echte Geldgewinne erzielen. Dir werden Freispiele oder Bonusguthaben gutgeschrieben.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/betano-slots-erfahrungen-2025-test-bewertung/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *