Kyiv Road is coming to London, and we were at a vigil on Trafalgar Square last night to hear the news.
Arranged by the US Embassy and Westminster Council Trafalgar Square, the vigil marked one year since the invasion of Ukraine.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, US Ambassador to London Julie Hartley, and actor Dame Helen Mirren spoke to a high-spirited throng of refugees and supporters.
Dame Helen read a translation of Serhiy Zhadan’s poem Take Only What Is Most Important, containing the emotive lines: “We will never return again / we will never see our city again / You will not return / our friends will never come back.”
“I think you will be back,” Dame Helen said, contrasting the weight of the poem with a message of hope, followed by a rallying cry: “Peace for Ukraine! Democracy for Ukraine! Freedom for Ukraine!”
Ukrainian rock band Antytila and the country’s 2016 Eurovision winner Jamala also sang some crowd-pleasers while Company E dance troupe performed a routine inspired by the past year’s events.
Ambassador Hartley said: “The Ukrainian people have shown the world their strength and incredible courage. That’s what Putin underestimated all along.”
We spoke to people in the square on the night to gauge the mood. Arsenii, an international law student and refugee from Kharkiv, said: “I see everyone with Ukrainian flags and I’m really proud. It makes me cry.”
Irka, a Canadian-Ukrainian sign-bearer, said: “I’m very happy because the turnout is really big. But as Mr Zelensky says, we’re not getting enough ammunition as quickly as we need.”
Last night concluded a significant week of London events in solidarity with Ukraine. On the last day of London Fashion Week, three Ukrainian designers showcased their work in partnership with the British Fashion Council.
Caroline Rush, CEO of the BFC called the show “incredibly powerful and moving” saying the collections of KseniaSchnaider, Paskal AND Frolov “will form a part of history.”
