01/03/2026
Our thanks to everyone who turned out yesterday (Saturday 28 February 2026) to support our event in marking the 4th anniversary of Russia’s illegal and brutal invasion of Ukraine. This year our Ukrainian community in Derby joined the Ukrainian World Congress in the global campaign STAND WITH UKRAINE:PROTECT OUR FUTURES, highlighting the plight of Ukrainian children affected by this tragic war.
We were joined by a number of guests who came to show their solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Our thanks to Mr Tony Walker, Deputy Lieutenant and his consort Mrs Helen Walker; Deputy Mayor of Derby, Cllr Philip Ingall; Canon of St Ralph Sherwin RC Parish, Father Andrew Cole; Baggy Shanker, MP Derby South; Catherine Atkinson, MP Derby North; Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Cllr Alan Graves; Deputy Leader of Derby City Council, Cllr Paul Hezelgrave. Their warm words of support for Ukraine were welcomed by our community, especially by the new Ukrainian arrivals who have settled in Derby and the surrounding area seeking sanctuary from this mindless war inflicted by the aggressor and terrorist state of Russia.
We also heard from our own Branch Chair Lydia Deremenda, who thanked our councils of Derbyshire County Derbyshire County and Derby City, as well as the many hosts who gave shelter in their support of our Ukrainian families, as they integrate into UK society. Thanks were also expressed to Derby City Council in flying our national flag as well as lighting up the A52 bridge in the colours of Ukraine as we mark this sad anniversary.
In highlighting the plight of Ukraine’s children, members of our Ukrainian Youth Association, including the children of our new Ukrainian arrivals, read the testimonies of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, other children read poems. Tatiana Kannunikova and Vikki Momot then sang the "Balad of the Malvy", as the children then placed soft toys as a symbol of a lost childhood in memory of the hundreds of Ukrainian children killed in this war and the 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly removed to be indoctrinated as Russian’s. This systematic abduction is widely condemned as a war crime and an act of genocide.
After concluding the Vigil, Father Andrew Cole led the procession as part of our “Walk for Peace” to St Mary’s Catholic Church for a short programme of remembrance, prayers and reflection which included a short documentary clip about the abducted Ukrainian children and a personal testimony of Anastasiia Kapustian. (https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1949322/from-kharkiv-nottinghamshire-young-girls). Our local singing group “Kalyna” formed by our new Ukrainian arrivals, sang “Ukraine We Pray for You”, ending with prayers led by Father Andrew Cole.
Our deepest and sincere thanks to everyone in our Ukrainian community, our distinguished guests, Father Andrew Cole for kindly hosting us at St Mary's RC Church and the people of Derby who came along in marking this sad anniversary and we pray for what we hope is a swift end to this mindless war inflicted by Russia.
Slava Ukraini! - Heroyam Slava!
Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain
Ukrainian World Congress - Свiтовий Конґрес Українців
AUW Derby Association of Ukrainian Women in Great Britain
