News / Ukraine
Ukrainians in Bristol want world to remember their country
Dozens of people gathered at College Green to express solidarity with Ukraine.
The rally was organised amidst the ongoing conflict which witnessed a deadly attack by Russia on a children’s hospital in Kyiv on Monday.
The event in Bristol on Wednesday was attended by many of the Ukrainian community in Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
The rally began around 6pm with the singing of the Ukrainian national anthem followed by addresses from two keynote speakers.
Igor, a university student, said: “There’s war in Ukraine right now and it needs help immediately.
“Bristol has seen war. Bristol has seen some brutal German bombing during Second World War that destroyed houses, shops, hospitals and schools . This is what’s happening in Ukraine right now.
“This is why Bristol, the UK and the whole West should not forget about Ukraine. You should help Ukraine. So the children, the sick and the vulnerable do not die.”
“Russia is a terrorist state,” chanted the Ukraine solidarity rally on College Green this evening pic.twitter.com/2RUhLgQk9f
— Milan Gregory Perera (@stbonscc) July 10, 2024
Also speaking was Mariia, who moved to Bristol when the war broke out two years ago.
She said: “Russians don’t care about human lives, especially Ukrainian lives. They are targeting schools, destroying more than 300 schools that may never be rebuilt again.
“They are targeting hospitals, destroying more than 200 of them all over Ukraine.
“They are targeting museums, universities, kindergartens, cinemas and shopping centres.
“They are destroying the culture and the normal life. I wanted to call the whole world. Do not ignore this crime.”
The keynote speakers Igor and Mariia reiterated the “absolute necessity” of supporting Ukraine
There were banners and placards that condemned Russia as a “terrorist state”. There was also a makeshift crib featuring the atrocities against the children during the war.
The meeting concluded with a march around College Green.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, Igor, a member of Bristol University Ukrainian Society, said: “Okhmatdyt is a children’s hospital in Ukraine, which on July 8 became the recent target of Russian missiles.
“More innocent lives have been cruelly taken by a country that is still a member of the UN. Every day, Russia kills Ukrainians, not sparing even children.
“We must unite in the fight against the aggressor and call on the world to respond to these crimes, not only against Ukraine but against humanity.”
He reiterated the “absolute necessity” of removing Russia from the UN, as a country “that bombs children’s hospitals should not have a voice in the matters of peace”.
The rally concluded with a solidarity march around College Green
All photos: Milan Perera
Read next:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
