Thousands of Ukrainians, together with supporters from the UK and all over the world, gathered at Speakers Corner to march to Trafalgar Square for a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Bystanders along the route clapped, cheered or prayed as they watched the procession move from Park Lane, down Piccadilly with flags and banners aloft or tied around shoulders. Accompanied by chants of ‘Russia is a terrorist state’ but also by strains of Ukrainian folk music, the marchers swiftly filled Trafalgar Square which became a sea of yellow and blue.
Urgent warnings for the free world
There were rousing speeches from the stage and gratitude for the military support given so far but there were also urgent warnings for the free world to wake up and realise that this war was not just Ukraine’s but the concern of all who value democracy, human dignity and a just world order. Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Eparch of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the UK joined the crowds after holding an moving interfaith service for peace at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral with particular reference to the 528 children killed, each represented by a paper angel. It was a timely reminder that whether the conflict is in Ukraine or Gaza or indeed elsewhere, children are robbed of a childhood, of security, of their right to family life. The UK government in its pledge to ‘do whatever it takes’ would do well to take note of this and reverse the closure of the visa scheme which enabled Ukrainians to join family members in the UK.
Demonstration of solidarity
This demonstration of solidarity in London was matched by marches in all parts of the UK as well as in European and many world capitals. Warm words of support came from all directions but the message from Ukraine is that these must be backed up by the equipment, arms and ammunition that are so urgently needed if Russia is to be stopped in its tracks and ultimately defeated.
