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Vigil held to mark three years of Ukraine war

Tom MacDougall
BBC News, Yorkshire
Tom MacDougall/BBC Attendees of the vigil hold a giant flag of Ukraine outside the Winter Garden. Some also have flags draped around their shoulders or are waving them in the air.Tom MacDougall/BBC
The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) and the council hosted a vigil at the Sheffield Winter Garden

A vigil has been held in Sheffield city centre to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Organised by the Sheffield branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) and the city council, it featured a performance by the AUGB's children's choir and guest speakers in the Sheffield Winter Garden.

Among those attending were council leader Tom Hunt and Lord Mayor of Sheffield Cllr Jayne Dunn.

AUGB organiser Tanya Klymenko said the event was to bring the Ukrainian community together, but also remind British supporters of the continuing conflict.

Tom MacDougall/BBC People are gathered inside the Winter Garden to listen to one of the guest speakers.Tom MacDougall/BBC
The vigil featured guest speakers and a performance by the AUGB children's choir

Ms Klymenko migrated from Ukraine before the war, but said she still wanted to support those who had arrived from a "backdrop of extreme trauma and stress".

She pointed out that although this was the third anniversary of the full-scale invasion, Russia had been attacking Ukraine for almost 11 years.

However, she said she had not seen support for Ukrainians waver since the start of the war.

"It's absolutely amazing and unbelievable how many people in Britain still deeply care."

In response to conversations between the United States and Russia about ending the war, she said Ukraine needed lasting security guarantees, and that it wasn't enough "to buy a couple of years of relative peace".

She also supported the idea of Ukraine and Europe shifting away from dependence on American support.

"At the end of the day, Trump has a point, it's first and foremost Europe's security issue," she said.

Tom MacDougall/BBC Alla Bulavko, a middle-aged woman with brown hair.Tom MacDougall/BBC
Alla Bulavko's husband and eldest son remained in Ukraine to enlist as soldiers

Alla Bulavko said she had moved to Sheffield as a refugee three years ago with her son, who was now 17, but her older son and husband had remained in Ukraine to enlist as soldiers.

"I worry for their lives, when I call them, I hear sirens almost every evening and every night.

"Sometimes I have nervous attacks and cry without any reason. I think about their future, especially my son's.

"He's young, he's a child for me, and I gave birth to him not for sending to the war."

She said she was hopeful conversations between Russia and the US could signal the beginning of the end, but did not support peace talks without Ukraine being present.

"It's impossible and nonsense to have a deal about peace in Ukraine without being joined by our president - our people, they trust our government."

Hunt said: "We stand with Ukraine as it fights for its future.

"Of course, people want peace, but peace cannot be a one-sided deal.

"A peace deal that does not stop Putin attacking again is no peace deal at all."

Dunn said as mayor she had heard stories of "families torn and livelihoods lost", but also "kindness, solidarity, and hope".

"To our Ukrainian friends, I want to say this: you are welcome here as long as it takes, our city is your home, and your presence enriches our community."

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