An event to celebrate Ukrainian independence taking place in Bolton is said to be more important than ever. 

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) will hold its annual Ukrainian Independence Day event on Saturday, August 24. 

People will gather to celebrate 33 years of the country's independence after it split off from the Soviet Union in 1991, contributing to the dissolution of the state later that year. 

The event will include barbecue food, lively entertainment from traditional Ukrainian choirs and a chance to socialise with friends old and new. 

Entry is free but the food is £5 per person. 

After troubles in recent years such as the invasion of the Donbas region in 2014 and the wider invasion of Ukraine in 2022, both by Russia, Bolton branch chair Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn says this celebration is more important than ever. 

He said: "Thirty-three years ago I was in Ukraine when independence was declared, it blew my mind, we were not expecting it. 

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"Thirty-three years of history has flown by and we have had our ups and downs, the Orange Revolution, the Maidan Uprising, but in some respects we are still fighting those battles currently. 

"For the last 300 years Ukraine has been fighting for independence, and we are not going to give it up politely. It is particularly important, very much so." 

This comes as a Ukrainian commander has claimed its forces control a "1000 square kilometre", or 386 square mile, area of Russia's Kursk region. 

This is the first time a military official has publicly commented on this incursion. 

Yaroslaw added: "It is good to see we are taking the fight to the Russians. People talk about Ukrainian aggression, but we are only giving back what they have given us." 

He also thanked the congregation of St Patrick's RC Church in Bolton and Father Michael Howarth for raising £520 for the hospital in Kiev.