Russia's war on Ukraine: Edinburgh gathering today is chance to send a message of support to twin city Kyiv on Ukraine's independence day – Steve Cardownie

Today marks the 31st anniversary of Ukrainian independence. It also marks six months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
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Normally this would be a day of great celebration throughout the country but there will be no such thing this year. There will be no parades and no colourful events to mark this historic day, because as Russia continues to wage war against Ukraine and its forces continue to occupy Ukrainian territory, there is a suspicion that the Kremlin may attempt to mark the anniversary with some military activity designed to inflict even more terror on the streets of Kyiv and other major cities.

The United States’ State Department issued a security alert warning that Russia is “stepping up” efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities over the next few days.

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The head of Ukraine’s defence ministry intelligence directorate, Andriy Yusov, said on state television when referring to Putin and his cohorts that “they are really obsessed with dates and symbols, so it would be logical to be on the lookout and be prepared for independence day events to be attacked”.

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also warned last Sunday that “we should be aware that this week Russia may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel”.

In a war which, according to the United Nations, has already claimed the lives of more than 5,500 civilians, the Ukrainian Government has decided not to risk lives and has banned all public events this week for fear of a Russian attack.

This does not mean, however, that there will be no events to mark the anniversary elsewhere as cities throughout the world will be demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine by staging their own.

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A girl stands on top of a destroyed Russian military vehicle at Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv, which has been turned into an open-air museum ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day (Picture: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)A girl stands on top of a destroyed Russian military vehicle at Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv, which has been turned into an open-air museum ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day (Picture: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)
A girl stands on top of a destroyed Russian military vehicle at Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv, which has been turned into an open-air museum ahead of Ukraine's Independence Day (Picture: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)
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Here in Edinburgh, people will meet at the Panel of Saint Wolodymyr at the steps to Calton Hill in Regent Road at 1pm where bouquets of sunflowers will be laid.

Hannah Beaton-Hawryluk, chair of the Edinburgh branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, told me they were hoping to see a big turnout at the event, saying that as Edinburgh is a twin city of Kyiv, it was likely that there would be international media coverage that would be seen back in Ukraine.

The last thing on Putin’s mind as he ordered the Russian military to invade Ukraine was that, six months later, on Ukraine independence day, President Zelenskyy would still be in office.

What was to be a short “special military operation” has turned into a war of attrition and one which, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine last month, has cost the lives of approximately 40,500 Russian military personnel.

The National Flag of Ukraine is raised at the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Ground Forces Academy yesterday (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)The National Flag of Ukraine is raised at the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Ground Forces Academy yesterday (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
The National Flag of Ukraine is raised at the Hetman Petro Sahaidachny National Ground Forces Academy yesterday (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
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So heavy are the losses inflicted on the invading forces that Russia is now undergoing a major recruitment drive in an effort to boost the numbers of its troops in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military, supported by the civilian population, has ensured that another independence day can be celebrated this year. It is testimony to their fortitude and courage that we have the opportunity today to gather to salute their determination not to succumb to Russian tyranny.

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