Hundreds gather at Ukrainian community vigil outside Leicester Town Hall
Some held candles and wore Ukrainian flags while they sung hymns in the rain
Hundreds gathered outside Leicester Town Hall last night (Monday 28 February) for a vigil to commemorate the lives lost during the ongoing Ukraine crisis.
Families, friends and neighbours stood side by side with members of Leicestershire's Ukrainian Community to wave blue and yellow flags, sing hymns and protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Wol Wojeich, Secretary of the Leicester Ukrainian Club, said "the support is very emotional but it is very appreciated from all the Ukrainian's here in Leicester and beyond."
People of all ages came out in the pouring rain to show their hand made signs, some of which read "#StandWithUkraine" and "Stop Putin".
The crowd chanted "Stop Putin, Stop The War", while one man told protestors: "You're Croatian brothers are here, some of us are fighting in Ukraine with you."
"They launched rockets at our city'
One protestor named Vlad, a Ukrainian student studying at Leicester's De Montford University, said that he couldn't sleep out of fear for his family back home:
"It was so scary when, at 5am I received a call from my girlfriend and she said 'Vlad, Russia attacked us and they launched four rockets at our city. Please call your parents.'"
"I cannot sleep during the night because I don't want to wake up early morning and receive the bad news, that somethings happening with my friends and family. Here in Leicester we can see now, this meeting, this rally, for me it's really important that I can see Ukrainian flags."
Leicester City Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby was chanting alongside protestors, he said it's important to stand alongside those whose country is under attack:
"It's important to all of us to show our solidarity with Ukraine and what's happening there. And of course, we in Leicester have got quite a substantial Ukrainian community and obviously many of them desperately worried about their family and friends and about their country."