The Association of Ukrainians in Bradford are holding a “Stand With Ukraine!”, by commemorating the 2nd anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine with a Mass for Peace and to honour all those who have been killed by Russia’s aggression. the event will take place on 24th February at St Joseph's Catholic Church.
The goal of the global campaign, which the commemoration is part of, is to draw the world’s attention to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Head of the Association of Ukrainians in Bradford, Orysia Chymera talks to the Yorkshire Post ahead of this event.
The goal of the global campaign, which the commemoration is part of, is to draw the world’s attention to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and Head of the Association of Ukrainians in Bradford, Orysia Chymera talks to the Yorkshire Post ahead of this event.
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00:00 My name is Arisha Chimera, I'm the chair of the Association of Ukrainians Great Britain Bradford branch.
00:07 We're outside our community centre which is on Leggrooms Lane in Bradford, which is our BD7 area of Bradford.
00:16 We're coming up to the second anniversary of the full-scale illegal invasion of Russia on Ukraine.
00:26 So the war has been going on, it will be Saturday, March 2nd anniversary.
00:31 And whilst it is 10 years since war actually started in Ukraine after we had the revolution of dignity,
00:38 that very quickly got forgotten and wasn't so well remembered.
00:45 But the war that broke out two years ago hit the headlines and has severe repercussions throughout the whole of Europe
00:55 because it's not just a war against Ukraine, it's a war in Europe and the 20th century,
01:00 which never would anybody have believed that would happen.
01:05 So Ukraine is fighting for Europe, Europe's freedom, and whilst initially, the first six months definitely,
01:14 it was hitting the headlines all the time, recently it has dropped out of the news, not hit the headlines.
01:22 And we just cannot afford for people to forget it because it's the future of the freedom of the whole world that's at stake.
01:31 Since the conflict in the Middle East, obviously that is very serious and a concern for everybody there.
01:41 But Ukraine fell into the background and was rarely mentioned in the news.
01:46 People are losing their lives every single day in Ukraine. Bombings are continuing in places that people are unaware of.
01:56 All the towns and countries and villages near the border of Russia are being constantly bombed and it's not hitting any sort of news.
02:06 It's just the major towns when there's a major occurrence that hits the news.
02:11 But probably over the last couple of days we have hit the news more, certainly because of the news about the death of Navalny
02:21 and then the fact that Ukraine had to retreat from a town, possibly the front line, because they're running out of ammunition.
02:30 So it was like sending lambs to the slaughter, leaving soldiers out there.
02:34 So again it's a plea for the Western world to carry on the support because without the support Ukraine cannot manage on its own.
02:42 We're holding a vigil for peace at a mass service at St Joseph's Catholic Church, which is just off Manchester Road in Bradford.
02:53 So it's a BD5 postcode.
02:55 We've chosen there as opposed to our own church because it's a neutral ground and we want people of all denominations to feel that they are welcome
03:06 and to come and show their support for Ukraine and for peace in Ukraine, which is what everybody wants ultimately.
03:13 Peace and the return of a sovereign, independent Ukraine.