Thousands of protesters crowded outside Downing Street this evening to demand the UK government “step up” and do more to support Ukraine, while also chanting “Putin out”.
Ukrainians living in the UK held up signs calling for further sanctions against Vladimir Putin while also singing traditional hymns draped in their country’s flag.
Finance worker Oleksandr Polishchuk, 49, was among the 4,000 strong crowd.
Tearfully, he explained why he was at the demonstration, saying: “Thursday was the most horrible day of my life.
“It was my nephew’s sixth birthday. But instead of fireworks, they returned from Kiev to the sounds of explosions.
“My brother gathered his family, his two little kids and his wife, and they left to try and get to Germany where his wife’s family are but they didn’t make it far due to the bombardments.
“Now they are just south of Kyiv with relatives.
“I showed up at Downing Street by myself as I couldn’t work. I intended to stay all day and found out there was a demonstration and now I’ve been joined by thousands of people.”
Maryna Nekliudova, 34, was at the rally with her husband and has a close friend in Kyiv, who is in a makeshift bomb shelter in their apartment building with her three-year-old twins.
She said: “I’m completely devastated. They couldn’t even leave the city.
"Every time they tried to leave with their cases the air raid siren would go off.
“Those kids should not know war. We have not done anything. We are a peaceful nation and this is completely unprovoked.”
Maryna says being at the demonstration made her feel like she was able to make a difference.
She added: “I couldn’t sleep all of Thursday night as I felt like I was there with them.
“I can’t do anything to help them. All I can do is come here with my voice and let people see what is happening.
“The UK needs to step up with sending more arms to Ukraine. We need monetary support and once we are through this we will need support to rebuild the country."
Hanna Spichenko, 33, was joined by friend Anastasia Sagaidachna, 32, with the pair holding up placards calling for peace.
Hanna’s relatives are in the southern city of Kherson, where Russian tanks are currently passing through on their way to Kyiv.
She said: “I feel helpless, and being here feels like the least I can do.
“My family are hiding in a shelter as we speak. I have two sets of grandparents who can’t move well and my parents can’t just leave them so they’re just staying there. I’m calling them every hour.”
Natalia Ravyluk was one of the organisers of the first rally on Thursday, which was attended by around 1,000 people.
The 41-year-old regional manager was back at Downing Street today and is planning to be there for further demonstrations over the weekend, including one at noon on Saturday.
She added: "I have to be at every one. We are worried as we are watching our country getting destroyed.
"We have a war in the centre of Europe in the 21st Century, and all of the democratic leaders are letting Putin get away with it, and have been since 2014. It's already too late. We need more sanctions now."
