A Russian violinist horrified by her homeland’s invasion of Ukraine is hosting a fundraising concert for families fleeing the war.

Anastasia Egorova, is a fourth-year student at the Guildhall School of Music, and has booked St Gile’s Church at London’s Barbican for next Friday.

Ana was born and raised in St Petersburg, but moved to Penenden Heath with her mother Svet 10 years ago.

The 21-year-old said: “My mum helped me come up with the idea of the concert when I was feeling very unmotivated to do anything, because it felt like nothing really mattered.

“We wanted to do something that could actually help - I wish I could do more.”

Ana studied at the St Petersburg Conservatoire, Kent Academy of Music and now the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

The musician says she feels a conflict within herself, after seeing what her homeland has done.

“It just feels really horrible,” she told the Kent Messenger.

“It’s hard to explain - it feels like part of yourself is being ripped apart, without you being able to control it.”

Ana’s father and half-brother still live in St Petersburg.

She said: “They are quite sad and it’s very difficult for all of them at the moment. It feels like the whole society is falling apart.

“My father told me he feels like his soul is not in the right place - which I think is a very good way of expressing what’s going on.

“He already knows a lot about the conflict, as he is quite connected to other countries.

“However, there are people who don’t have that connection to the outside world, outside of Russia, who find it difficult to access the real information.”

She explained many Russian citizens are still unsure on what is actually going on.

“At the moment there is a lot of blocking going on, with government control within TV or radio - there is a lot of propaganda, all saying that this war is a good idea and trying to convince everyone.”

She said she was fortunate not to have faced any anti-Russian sentiment in the UK, adding “thankfully everyone around me is very supportive.”

Ana is hoping people will donate at least £5 to attend the concert, which starts at 7.30pm.

Proceeds will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Appeal, which is part of the Red Cross.