WATCH: Vigil For Ukraine

Friday, 4 March 2022 20:55

A vigil has taken place in the Royal Square to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Islanders turned out in force to show their support for those caught up in the ongoing conflict.

It began with a performance of the Musical Originals, who sang 'Prayer of the Children'.

The Bailiff then stood to make a speech, thanking islanders for coming out to show their support.

"As we have seen, although many Ukrainians have had to flee, many many more have stayed to fight. They are fighting now to defend their homeland, their families, their homes and their freedoms. As I have said, they are fighting for their very existence and they are doing so with a courage and determination and indeed, humanity that we can only admire from afar. As their leader, President Zelenskyy said in a broadcast speech intended for the Russian people, “when you kill us you will see our faces not our backs” and that same President, we know, is at great personal risk to himself and his family, staying in Ukraine and leading his country and joining with those fighting on the front line.

So why do we stand here this evening? We stand here to make it clear that our hearts and minds and support are with the people of Ukraine. Jersey is doing what it can to support those who have been dispossessed and have fled to other countries and to provide essential supplies such as medicines, clothing and basic necessities as well as, through the Appeal that we have set up, vital financial aid. As usual the Jersey response at the Parish Halls and elsewhere has been and will be great and generous.

We also hope to welcome Ukrainians into island homes.

But this evening is not about that. This evening is about standing together, shoulder to shoulder, and saying in the only way that we can that this aggression has no place in the modern world and we stand with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine in support and solidarity.

We do not however, stand here in condemnation of the Russian people. Many of the Russian people are either misled by their government or are as appalled by their government’s action as are we. They, those who are not fooled by their government, know what has happened and stand equally with their neighbours in Ukraine with whom they are so closely and naturally linked in support of them as well. A number of them are here this evening.

We in Jersey, still within living memory of the Occupation, understand the loss of liberty and privation that occupation can bring. We are sensitive to the value of that liberty and that freedom and for us it is important to stand with this beleaguered country and its people to offer what support we can and to say by our presence here this evening – you are not forgotten; we are with you. We are hopeful that one day soon your ordeal will be over and you will have the peace and the liberty that you are entitled to, as a sovereign democracy and as people."

Following a call for help, islanders have donated aid items that will be shipped to Poland and Romania this afternoon.

The Polish Consul has paid tribute to supporters, with Magda Chmielewska calling the response 'emotional'.