Hundreds gather in Dundee to support Ukraine
Donations were also collected to be sent to refugees fleeing the conflict after the Russian invasion
Last updated 28th Feb 2022
A demonstration in support of Ukraine has brought hundreds of people in Dundee to gather in City Square.
Beginning at 11am on Monday morning the city centre was full of banners, flags and posters to show solidarity.
ZHP Perth, a Polish scout group, took donations at the rally where people filled blue bins with nappy's, baby formula, baby pacifiers, socks and much more. All of the items donated are set to be transported to the Ukraine and Poland border.
Speakers set up on the steps of the Caird Hall where attendees heard empowered speeches from people such as Dundee City Council leader John Alexander, Labour MSP and Councillor Michael Mara and multiple Ukranian nationals such as Valentyna Kornafel.
READ MORE: Scottish Government to send aid to Ukraine
Valentyna told Tay FM what her family in Ukraine are doing to support their nation. She said: "My brother he's helping, he's got a few trucks, like a private business and he's helping to transport stuff to the army. Troops and stuff, he's transported a few refugee's as well.
"My sister, she's working in a sowing factory and they're making bullet proof vests right now. My friends participating, volunteering, making cocktail Molotov's, helping refugee's from the east and other parts of Ukraine. "
She added: "The last four days and nights have been tremendously hard but I feel that I have to do something, I can't be quiet. I have family in Russia too and I love them to bits but they have to stand-up and say no to the war as well.
"Because their soldiers are getting killed more than Ukrainians and that's terrible and I do feel sorry but I believe that all together as a world community we can stop this."
Martina from Poland attended the event and she told us why, saying: "You can't always help hands on but showing that solidarity is definitely important. I, myself, talked to some Ukrainian people and they said that this support really means a lot and motivates them even more that we stand by them."
Natasha Waszczuk was leading the aid donations at the rally. She's telling us how much it means to see so many people donating. She said, while holding back tears: "I'm trying not to cry over this. It mean's a lot to me. I'm from Poland so I've been contacting my family and I've been asking what do you guys need the most, what is there a loss of.
"I've been trying to go back and fourth and I'm like well baby stuff is the most needed right now. So, seeing everyone come together and bring even just the smallest thing it just means the world to me, to my friends in Ukraine. "
