Peaceful protest shows the support from our county
The Ukrainian community in West Sussex came together on Sunday to protest Vladimir Putin’s war in their home country.
Organised by Nataliya De Kremer, who has lived in the UK for 13 years, the peaceful protest in Crawley saw people bring posters and signs demonstrating against the War.
Mrs De Kremer spoke and led the gathering in singing the Ukrainian National Anthem. Local MP Henry Smith also spoke and chanted ‘Stop the War’.
Ingrida Kazlauskiene, a Lithuanian, also gave a passionate speech about why this war should not be happening and how it will affect other countries in the area.
You can see Mrs Kazlauskiene’s full speech in our Facebook Live video.
Mrs De Kremer, who lives in Crawley Down, was amazed by the turnout and said how important it is people are aware of what is going on in her home country.
She said: “I organised this protest because there is a war going on in my own country I have a lot of family members who are there at the moment in West Ukraine.
“There have been bombs going off there. There is a military and civilian airport there and it’s been blown up. Missiles have been dropping on it and my family live just 1km away from it.
“They felt the ground shaking and it’s not right. People are dying.
“My friends and family are there.
“Some of them are fleeing and some of them are staying to fight.”
Putin ordered forces to invade Ukraine last Thursday and fighting has continued since then.
The UK, along with the EU and US have imposed sanctions on Russia and have provided military aid to
Ukraine. But is it enough? Mrs De Kremer said: “I am worried. I am safe in the UK at the moment but will I be safe tomorrow?
“Is my child going to be safe tomorrow?
“It’s not right what’s going on and people need to hear about and do something about it.
“I hope Boris Johnson does something about it.
“I know they have placed sanctions and that’s great and were are so grateful for the support of the United Kingdom and EU countries but more needs to be done because Putin is not going to stop.
“He might be doing this because he knows he doesn’t have much left in politics, he doesn’t have much time so he doesn’t care what happens to the people.
“He only cares what happens in history and whether he is going to be part of history.
“People should not be dying. Ukraine is a free country. Everything about Ukraine is absolutely beautiful. It’s a growing nation.
“It’s been free for the last 30 years and now he is trying to take over again.
“Ukraine has been Ukraine for a long time. It’s not right.
“The people want to live in the Ukraine and the free world.
“We go back there all the time, my extended family still live there. It’s an amazing beautiful country.
“If it becomes Russia no one is safe, I am really worried what is going to happen tomorrow.
“Our army needs help and they need help right now because they are strong people and they will continue to fight.”