Vigil at Minster marks anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine

PEOPLE gathered at York Minster for a vigil to mark the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Organised by York City of Sanctuary and the Minster, candles were lit and the York Ukraine Together choir sang traditional Ukrainian songs at the service.

There were also readings and prayers led by York Minster's Canon Maggie McLean, and the Ukrainian national anthem was sung as two minutes’ silence was reflected.

Canon McLean said York would continue to "stand in solidarity" with the people of Ukraine.

“We haven’t forgotten them,” she added.

Three British veterans who spent the night sleeping outside in Kyiv to raise money for homeless Ukrainians said they heard fighter jets and air raid sirens on Friday and Saturday night.

Dan Kaine, 44, Matt Hooper, 44, and Mike O’Halloran, 53, travelled to the Ukrainian capital to sleep outside in sleeping bags – within a secure compound to avoid breaking curfew laws.

The charity sleep-out aims to raise awareness of homeless and displaced Ukrainians living in the war zone while marking the twoyear anniversary of Russia’s fullscale invasion, which began on February 24 2022.

The men, whose faces and military career details cannot be shared for security reasons, are fundraising for the charity RE:ACT Disaster Response.

Mr Kaine described the trio’s first night in a post on LinkedIn and said it began with the sound of fighter jets and air raid sirens on Friday. The three men were escorted at around 7.30pm by Kyiv’s chief of police in Mykhailivs’ka to the secure compound where they spent the night.

Hours later, Mr Kaine saw a flash alert and described the moment, writing on LinkedIn: “At 21.47 hours the air raid sirens sounded across the capital, closely followed by an internal flash alert to inform us that 16 Shahed drones were in the air on a trajectory to hit targets in Kyiv. “This was immediately preceded by the sound of fighter jets taking off from Kyiv Airport.”

They saw another flash alert at around 4.47am to indicate Russian missiles had been destroyed.

GATHERING: York Minster & York City of Sanctuary held their vigil for peace at York Minster to mark the second year of the invasion of Ukraine. Members of the congregation stand together for the lighting of candles..