Vigil, march and rally held in Nottingham to mark two years of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine

For immediate publication

Click here for photos of the 23rd Feb vigil

Click here for photos of the 24th Feb march and rally

Nottingham Ukraine Solidarity Campaign (NUSC) held events on 23rd and 24th Feb in support of Ukraine to mark two years of full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

23rd Feb – Candlelit Vigil

In the evening of Friday 23th February, Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian residents of Nottingham gathered at Speakers’ corner and held a candlelit vigil to remember the victims of Russia’s war in Ukraine and to highlight the ongoing suffering of the people of Ukraine.

The crowd was addressed by local councillor David Mellen, Lilian Greenwood the Labour MP for Nottingham South and the Very Reverend Father David Senyk who led the crowd in prayer.

24th Feb – March and rally

To mark the two year anniversary itself, a large 450 person march was held through the city. The march started at Speaker’s Corner and went through Clumber Street and Hockley and back to Old Market Square.

In Market Square local Ukrainian choirs and community groups performed songs and a play written for the event. Local community leaders also spoke to the crowd.

Michael Holod, branch chair of the Nottingham Ukrainian Cultural Centre, spoke of his disgust about recent revelations of how some sanctioned goods are still being traded with Russia via Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, including parts that can be used for military purposes such as drones, night vision optics and aviation supplies.

Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome addressed the crowd and called on the UK government and governments around the world to send Ukraine the weapons it needs to defend itself, to cancel foreign debt and increase humanitarian aid. She also said that the UK must welcome all refugees and close loopholes in the sanctions against Putin’s regime. She thanked all Ukrainian refugees for being part of the community and hoped that they received a warm welcome here.

Other speakers included Ann Vickers from CityHubUkraine, a grass roots volunteer organisation set up two years ago and who have to date sent 43 artic lorries worth of aid to Ukraine including all types of food, baby, medical supplies and even vehicles such as 4x4s and ambulances. They started with just six volunteers for now have over 40. Maksym from Mariupol also highlighted the plight of the defenders of Azovstal, some of who are still in Russian captivity since early in the war.

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NUSC members are available for interview, please arrange by emailing ukrainesolidarity@gmail.com – To be added to our press list for future events please email the same address.