UKRAINIAN RESIDENTS IN Co Clare gathered in solidarity in the county town to mark one year since Russia’s invasion of their native country.
An approximate 150 Ukrainians assembled at the Daniel O’Connell Monument in Ennis on Friday afternoon. They sang rallies to acknowledge the ongoing efforts in the war while they also remembered the many people that have died in the past twelve months. The majority of those in attendance are residing in hotels and hostels in Ennis, a number of whom have taken up employment in the county.
So far 100,000 Russian and 13,000 Ukrainian service personnel have been killed, according to Western leaders and Ukraine’s armed forces. More than 7,000 Ukrainian civilians have died in the last year as a result of war, including at least 400 children.
More than 8 million Ukrainians have left the country and not returned, the majority finding refuge in neighbouring Poland and Romania, according to the United Nations, an exodus not seen in Europe since the 1940s.
It was an emotional occasion for those in attendance with some people left in tears. Placards reading ‘Puck Futin’ and ‘protect the rights of prisoners of war’ were also on display.
One year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a gathering of solidarity is held at the Daniel O’Connell Monument in Ennis.
Rallies are sung by 100 plus Ukrainians as they remember those who have died in the war and those still fighting for their country. pic.twitter.com/nXgjJOV3eu
— The Clare Echo (@ClareEcho) February 24, 2023
Tetiana Gnatuik has lived in Ennis for the past ten months, she was one of the main organisers of the anniversary demonstration, the entirety of the gathering was spoken and sung in Ukrainian.
She said the message they wanted to highlight the continued bravery of Ukrainian people. “One year ago the war started in Ukraine, a lot of people from Ukraine meet here and we would like to say that we are brave, Ukrainian people are brave people, we are very friendly people”. She praised the Clare Local Development Company for their continued support of Ukrainian people over the last year.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Tetiana explained that both rallies sung by the group were about the war and a show of support. She added, “I’ve a lot of family still in Ukraine, a lot of people are still fighting for us, our husbands are fighting in Ukraine, my husband is a volunteer, he repairs the cars used”.
“It’s a day of memory, it is in memory of our emotions on this day”. Tetiana added, “Russia was our friendly country and we were friends with them, now it’s a terrorist, Russia is a terrorist”.
