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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
David Kent

RTE Late Late Show viewers in tears after Ryan Tubridy's emotional Ukraine speech

The beginning of Friday night's Late Late Show on RTE left many viewers applauding as Ryan Tubridy gave a powerful speech on the crisis in Ukraine.

Opening without the usual titles, we instead saw Ryan directly address the cameras.

He said: "Tonight, ladies and gentlemen it's different. Tonight, we stand with Ukraine. With a million lost souls having been chased by Putin's missiles, we stand with the millions who are left in cellars, sewers and facing a long night of terror ahead of them. We stand against want and aggression, against blind violence to threaten democratic Europe.

"Give what you can, if you can. This is a rapidly evolving crisis.

"I'd like you to take a look at the following piece. It's hard to believe that this is Europe in 2022."

What followed was a horrific compilation of Ukrainians fleeing as air raid sirens wailed in the sky, with families being separated at train stations, motorways and other areas.

We saw missiles rain on cities, women and children left crying as they wished their partners well while they left to defend Ukraine.

Tonight's episode was a fundraiser for the Irish Red Cross in Ukraine, with donate.redcross.ie seeing thousands of people rush to the site after the opening.

People took to social media to praise the opening.

Minister Simon Harris said: "Utterly heartbreaking and devastating scenes from #Ukraine on the #LateLateShow. Such a horrific, illegal attack on a beautiful country but also a barbaric attack on people, families, communities, humanity, democracy."

One person said: "I can't... I'm bawling already"

A second added: "Heartbreaking. And just because of one madman. Crazy."

A third tweeted: "Heartbreaking scenes pure evil the world needs to make Russia pay especially Putin. Depressing stuff".

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