Ukraine: Hundreds gather in Belfast to denounce invasion

Q Radio News/PA

Hundreds of people have protested in Belfast at the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian nationals were among the crowd that gathered outside City Hall for the demonstration and vigil on Friday evening.

Placards denouncing the war were held aloft and “we want peace” was chanted.

🎥 A Russian man living in NI addresses the crowd of hundreds at a peace rally for Ukraine outside Belfast City Hall, saying he’s ashamed of his country and branding President Putin "the Hitler of our time…”🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/6HfH5wlrgg

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 25, 2022

Several Ukrainians who live in Northern Ireland addressed the event.

One told the crowd:

“This meeting was created just to join everybody and show that people don’t war.

"Ukrainians don’t want war.”

Ukrainians and Russians join together to denounce Vladimir Putin’s invasion and call on NATO and the West for more help. There were harrowing stories of atrocities in Ukraine. Belfast City Hall was lit up in blue and yellow in solidarity:
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine

📸Alan Lewis pic.twitter.com/UcgVaPi0De

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 25, 2022

The protest also heard calls from Amnesty International for the Stormont authorities to “step up” plans to welcome refugees fleeing the conflict.

Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland programme director, said: “The horror of war which Russia is now inflicting on the civilian population of Ukraine is a reminder of the reason so many people are forced to become refugees.

“Any one of us in this situation would pick up our children and run – and we wouldn’t stop until we felt safe.

“Ukrainians are already fleeing in numbers, mostly initially to Poland. Many will likely move on. That is their right under international law, and the UN Refugee Convention.

“Some may make their way to Northern Ireland – perhaps because of family or friends here.

“It is our duty as a country to welcome them with open arms. That is our legal obligation and our moral imperative.

“As citizens, I know that we will be part of welcoming them and we will insist that our government, at Stormont and in Westminster, steps up to their responsibilities.”

🎥 A rally in Belfast this evening has heard emotional appeals from Ukrainians living in Northern Ireland for help from the international community “not just empty promises”after the Russian invasion: 🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/TxsvvJgSka

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) February 25, 2022

A demonstration outside Belfast City Hall following the Russian invasion of Ukraine