Hundreds of people gathered in the city centre of Edinburgh on Sunday to protest the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Video footage and images of the protests began to emerge early in the afternoon, showing hundreds of people with Ukraine banners in the city centre as the conflict continues into its 100th day.
The protest was organised by Help Ukraine Scotland, a community activist group, alongside other groups supporting Ukrainians in Scotland, MSPs, refugees and members of the public.
READ MORE - Dad in McDonald's comes under fire for taking daughters into women's toilet
It is estimated that between 350 and 400 people came out in Edinburgh to protest the ongoing war in Ukraine, with speeches from MSPs outside the Scottish parliament building. The protest was to mark 100 days of war in the country, which officially passed last Friday.
The march began outside the Russian Consulate at midday, continued along Lothian Road, cut up Johnston Terrace before continuing down the Royal Mile and congregated outside the Scottish Parliament building.
At the parliament, more than an hour of speeches were heard from a variety of speakers including MSPs Alex Cole-Hamilton, Daniel Johnson and Neil Grey. As well as Yevhen Mankovskyi from the Acting Consulate of Ukraine in Edinburgh, and Hannah Beaton Hawryluck from AUGB Edinburgh.
Neil Gray is the current Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development, he also has responsibility for the Government’s approach to supporting Ukrainian refugees in Scotland.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Neil said: “I was proud to march in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, alongside displaced Ukrainians who have recently made Scotland their home.
“We are now more than 100 days since Putin’s illegal invasion began. That means 100 days of people losing their homes, 100 days of families sheltering in air raid shelters and 100 days of children dying. It is unforgivable. The message from the rally was loud and clear - Putin must withdraw and leave the people of Ukraine to live peacefully.”
Video footage of the protest emerged from the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain showing hundreds of people marching through the city centre waving Ukrainian flags, chanting and being followed by a car painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag.
Hannah from AUGB Edinburgh said: “There was a mixture of refugees there, people who came across recently, economic migrants and Scottish people who were interested in the situation and wanted to support it. It was a really diverse group.
“We were really happy with the turnout today.
“When we were approached to support it by Help Ukraine Scotland a week ago, we were a bit concerned that a week was too little notice. But to get so many people to turn out on such a nice day, I think that’s a good turnout. There’s talks about doing another protest in October and trying to mobilise all of Scotland.
“We are trying to keep awareness of the war in Ukraine going. There’s a lot of concern that, like in Crimea, this becomes business as usual. The media forgets, the world forgets and people who don’t have a vested interest forget.
“It's just about trying to have that conversation in society about what’s going on in Ukraine. What we are especially proud of is that all the political parties across the spectrum were represented today, so that shows the political support for this.”
