People in Ramsgate and Thanet are being invited to special events to mark the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine later this month.
The invite comes from Ramsgate’s Salvation Army church which has been offering practical and spiritual support to refugees since the conflict began in 2022. The church and charity run regular activities for Ukrainians including a community hub and English lessons.
Nadiia Hryhorieva is Volunteer Ukrainian Programme Coordinator at Ramsgate Salvation Army and gave some more details about what is planned for 24 February.
She said: “We will have a marquee in the centre of Ramsgate during the day and hold a Candlelight Vigil and Prayers at The Salvation Army in the evening. People don’t know much about our community so we want to raise awareness.”
As well as settling in Thanet, Nadia and her friends also arrange for vital supplies to be sent back to people who are still in Ukraine, thanks to a local volunteer driver.
Nadiia said: “We send hygiene products, food and pet food back home. The driver also delivers aid to a kindergarten and tries to deliver supplies to people with relatives on the front line.
“Two of our friends here who sent a parcel back learnt that their home had been bombed. Their relatives were thankfully unharmed but many flats in the block were destroyed and six people died – on the same day the parcel was delivered.
“This shows how important our support is – we can’t forget about what’s happening.”
Carl Whitewood leads The Salvation Army in Ramsgate. He said he was grateful for the support of the community so far and said more can be done to make a difference in the lives of people who continue to struggle.
He said: “As we reach this significant milestone, it is crucial for us to come together, reflect and offer our unwavering support to those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine. Our prayers and actions can provide comfort and hope to those who need it most.”
Nadiia and other local Ukrainians will be setting up a marquee in the town centre which will open at 11am on 24 February.
Visitors will have the chance to learn more about the current situation in Ukraine as well as what support is available for Ukrainians in Thanet. They will also have the opportunity to support Ukrainians living locally and in Ukraine itself.
The Candlelight Vigil and Prayer for Ukraine is taking place on 24 February at 6pm at Ramsgate Salvation Army. All are welcome to attend.
The Salvation Army in Ramsgate offers activities throughout the week including a parent and toddler group, breakfast drop-ins and friendship clubs. For more information, visit https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/ramsgate
The Russo-Ukrainian War began in February 2014. Following Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea from Ukraine and supported pro-Russian separatists fighting the Ukrainian military in the Donbas War. These first eight years of conflict also included naval incidents and cyberwarfare.
In February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and began occupying more of the country, starting the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II. The war has resulted in a refugee crisis and tens of thousands of deaths.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED- THE WORLD STOOD BY OFF WHAT PUTIN DID – AND NOTHING WAS DONE.
Tell that to Boris Johnson who encouraged Zelensky not to accept Russia’s fair peace deal.
Genuine question. If there is a peace deal, will all the Ukrainians across Europe who fled the war be returning home ?
I hope not. They genuinely enhance our society.
Why do you want to know?
Why are you asking?
Now these are GENUINE refugees worthy of welcome. They are fleeing a REAL war zone, and they don’t do a no.2 in Northdown Road.
How can you tell the difference between a Ukrainian one and any other?
I’m genuinely curious about our immigration rules where, if people flee war, and the war ends, will they return home. From what I read countries are doing it for Syrians so just interested in what’s different for Ukrainians?
They could be here longer than intended if the cretin megalomaniac Trump sells Ukraine out, as he likely will given a chance! Why this lunatic was elected as President of the USA is beyond me! Oh, yeah, it was the American media giants that published his lies as fact, in the name of “Free Speech” that did it! Now they want to do the same here, except here it means anything published must be “Balanced & Proportionate” which means any lies must be countered with a balanced truthful opinion proportionately published in the same way, which can’t happen in the USA! So they just keep publishing lies as fact, Duuurh!
This morning we all woke up to the news that the US President has had a brilliant idea, Ukraine should surrender to the Russians, why didn’t anyone else think of this? Can someone remind me, what does the letter J stand for in Donald J Trump? Oh, yes its Judas!