Memorial service held to mark the anniversary of Russian invasion into Ukraine

A Memorial Service was held at the Stone of Remembrance in the quad at the City Chambers on Tuesday morning to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Dignitaries including the Rt Hon Lord Provost, Robert Aldridge, Council Leader Jane Meagher, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scotland Office) Kirsty McNeil MP laid wreaths in memory of those who have died, and to mark the beginning of the fifth year of conflict.

The ceremony included representatives from the UK armed forces, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, and the Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh.

The Consulate said on their Facebook page that there is only one reason for the continuation of the war – “Russia has not abandoned its imperial ambitions and continues to wage war and carry out terror against civilians. Our goal is to stop it.” At 9am every day Ukraine falls silent to honour civilians and defenders who have been killed by Russia.

The Lord Provost said: “Edinburgh continues to be the gateway for the majority of Ukrainian arrivals in Scotland. Since February 2022 we’ve had almost 12,000 Ukrainians pass through our Welcome Hub, first at Gogarburn house and now at Flassches Yard in South Gyle. Residents, volunteers and colleagues have worked steadfastly to help our new arrivals, opening their hearts and in many cases, their homes to Ukrainians in their hour of need. And of course, the Ukrainian community continues to enrich our city. So our thoughts remain with those continuing to fight for freedom in Ukraine, those who have fallen in defense of their country, and for everyone who has had to abandon their homes or have their lives altered so drastically. Let us all hope that this fourth commemoration will be the last of that horrific invasion, full scale invasion, of Ukraine, and hope that this all ends positively for Ukraine in the not too distant future, Slava, Ukraine,

The Consul of the Consulate of Ukraine, Andrii Madzianovskyi,made a powerful emotional speech, recalling individuals who had died. He said: “Dear friends. I was thinking about what my speech should be today, and I understood that I have the duty to convey to you the full horror of the world of war, not through statistics, not through political statements, but through people, real people whose very destinies were broken by the ruthless Russian war machine.

“I want you to remember as Vasyl Slipak, a very famous opera singer and soloist in the Paris National Opera. He had a career. He had a fame and recognition, but he returned to Ukraine to defend his land, and he was killed by snipers bullet in Donbas. The voice that resounded in the best theatres of the world fell silent on the battlefield.

“I want you to remember eight year old, Alexandra Pascal, a young gymnast from Odesa. A Russian missile took her leg, but it didn’t take her strength. She returned to sports and she is competing again. She is smiling, and her courage is greater than any missiles.

“I want you to remember nine year old, Roman Oleksiv who lost his mother during a missile attack on a hospital in Vinnytsya while they were both visiting the doctor. He has undergone dozens of operations. His body is scarred by war, but his spirit is not broken.”

Minister McNeill said: “Thank you for allowing me to be here today to stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian friends as we mark four years since the start of Putin’s unprovoked and barbaric war. I’m humbled to have that opportunity to lay a wreath in honor of all those affected by this conflict. It’s profoundly saddening that Ukrainian people still face unimaginable brutality and heartbreaking to placement every single day, we must stand with unwavering resolve to support Ukraine’s courageous fight for its freedom.”