A foreign correspondent who was in Ukraine on the day Russia invaded gave a talk at Winchester Cathedral.

Luke Harding, who was based in Russia from 2007 to his expulsion in 2011, spoke to hundreds of people, some of them Ukrainian refugees. Tickets were available for a donation, and before the event even began it had raised over £3,000 for the Disasters Emergency Committee.

The evening began with an evensong, which included an act of remembrance and prayers for Ukraine. The cathedral was lit up in yellow and blue, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.

READ MORE HERE: Ex-head of Royal Marines from Winchester under great stress before suicide, inquest hears

In conversation with the Very Rev Catherine Ogle, Dean of Winchester, Mr Harding recounted the early events of the war, including the day of the invasion on February 24, 2022.

“You could feel history bearing down on you,” he said of the morning it happened, “You knew this great evil was coming.”

After his talk, there was an opportunity for the audience to ask questions, with some Ukrainians offering thanks for sharing the story of the war. There was also an opportunity to buy his book on the war in Ukraine, Invasion: Russia's Bloody War & Ukraine's Fight for Survival, and have it signed, with all profits going to the DEC appeal.

Afterwards the Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem, Vice-Dean said: “We are delighted the Cathedral has been able to play its part in showing solidarity with the people of Ukraine. It was a privilege to hear Luke Harding’s vivid, first-hand report. The money raised for the DEC is a sign of our continuing care for Ukraine, as with so many we hope and pray for peace.”

The livestream of the event will be available on the Winchester Cathedral YouTube channel until the end of the month. The book signing was co-ordinated by P&G Wells.