The flag of Ukraine was flown outside South Lanarkshire Council headquarters this week, as Vladimir Putin was compared to Hitler at a meeting inside.
In a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, councillors passed a motion condemning the Russian invasion.
Conservative members vowed to contribute ten per cent of their salaries to help the Red Cross in the region.
And SNP councillors had the flag of Ukraine as their background during the virtual meeting. SLC leader John Ross blasted the “madness” of Putin and compared his actions to Nazi madman Hitler.
He said: “I think the consequences of Putin’s madness are there for all the world to see.
“The scenes witnessed daily and hourly on our TV screens are so heart-rending – families are fleeing their homes with their lives in a couple of bags, others are sheltering beneath ground in constant fear of being bombed.
“Mothers and children are being torn from fathers staying behind to fight for their country’s independence. I find not only their bravery overwhelming but that of every citizen of Ukraine in standing against the tyranny of modern-day Hitler.”
Councillor Poppy Corbett (Clydesdale West) revealed that the South Lanarkshire Conservative group will be sending part of their wages to support the people of Ukraine.
She said: “I would just like to take this opportunity to let everyone know that the
Conservative group will be donating ten per cent of their final salaries to the British Red Cross to help provide ongoing support to vulnerable people in the Ukraine.”
At the full council meeting on Wednesday, March 2, Councillor Robert Brown (Rutherglen South) proposed the motion condemning the invasion, and it was seconded by the council leader.
The motion calls for the council to stand ready to assist in all ways with humanitarian support and to fully back the UK government in partnership with other NATO allies in deploying sanctions.
It also requests that the council’s chief executive write to Andrey Yakovlev, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Scotland, expressing the local authority’s condemnation of the actions of his government.
Councillor Brown said: “The Russian invasion of Ukraine arouses feelings of shock, disbelief and horror that after all the evil experiences of the twentieth century we should once again see an independent democratic European country be the subject of bullying, aggression and an attempted domination by the armed power of an expansion state led by a man showing all the signs of delusion and mania.
“Let us today add our small voice along with other small and large voices across the globe in absolutely condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine as the war crime that it is and stand ready to offer whatever humanitarian support and refuge that is within our power.”
A book with comments and support from people in South Lanarkshire was proposed by councillor Hugh Macdonald (East Kilbride Central North) to eventually send to the Ukrainian parliament and show further solidarity.
Throughout South Lanarkshire, groups are organising fundraisers to send to Ukraine as well as collecting items such as non-perishable food, sanitary products and other well needed provisions for the country.
Hamilton Town House, which is operated by South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, is being lit at night in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
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