Ukrainian community members and supporters rallied outside St Mary鈥檚 Cathedral in Gadigal/Sydney on February 24 to commemorate the second anniversary of Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion and Ukraine鈥檚 ongoing resistance.
Rally MCs began with an Acknowledgement of Country followed by a minute鈥檚 silence for the 鈥渂rave and heroic defenders of Ukraine who have fallen in the struggle against Russian aggression and genocide鈥.
The minute鈥檚 silence was dedicated to the 鈥渟ons and family members of those who stand here, and who felt compelled to go and fight against Russian aggression 鈥 and sacrificed their lives for a better life for their families, their loved ones, for all of us.鈥
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Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko recalled how 鈥淩ussia thought it could take over Kyiv in ten days. But two years later, we are still standing.
鈥淭his was due to our readiness to fight and the readiness of our partners to support our fight. These last two years we have demonstrated we can defend territories, inflict damages on the aggressors and even neutralise their Black Sea navy.
鈥淧roperly equipped we are capable of defeating Russian troops 鈥 and we will not need to have a third anniversary.鈥
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Andrew Mencinsky, the vice-president of the Ukrainian Council of NSW, the event organizers, noted that Ukrainians were 鈥渇ighting Russian authoritarianism, terror and genocide鈥.
He outlined how on top of the tens of thousands of Ukrainians killed by Russia, it is also responsible for having damaged or destroyed 3800 educational facilities and 1500 medical facilities, and kidnapping and deporting more than 19000 Ukrainian children to Russia against their will.
鈥淯kraine needs our help now or it will be destroyed. Ukraine needs more military aid now to defeat the Russian invaders,鈥 Mencinsky said.
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A young Ukrainian boy, who arrived in Australia just six months ago, read a poem about the destruction of his hometown of Dnieper, for which he won an award at school. A Ukrainian woman who received a scholarship to attend the Conservatorium of Arts also played a song.
Other speakers included Linda Voltz, NSW Labor MP for Auburn and Australian Financial Review war correspondent Misha Zelinsky, who was in Ukraine when Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022.
Video messages from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns and other Labor and Liberal MPs were played and diplomats and community leaders representing Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovakia were brought on stage.
Alex Salmon reports that more than 100 members of the聽Ukrainian community and their supporters gathered in Murray Street Mall in Boorloo/Perth on the same day.
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Following an Acknowledgement of Country, members of the Ukrainian community addressed the crowd, urging Australia鈥檚 government to continue supporting them in the fight against Russia鈥檚 occupation.
A member of the Iranian community expressed their solidarity with Ukraine鈥檚 struggle and thanking the Ukrainian community for the support they have given to the pro-democracy movement in Iran.
Anne McMenamin from聽Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide reports that聽a聽solemn but defiant protest was organised by聽the Ukrainian community on the steps of Parliament House on February 22. About 300 people attended, including representatives from the local Polish, Slovenian and Lithuanian communities, among others.
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Two representatives from the 400 Ukrainian refugees in South Australia spoke聽about their uncertain future, while officials from two local Ukrainian churches gave prayers and blessings. Other speakers included several state and federal parliamentarians from Labor and the Coalition.
Rallies were also held in聽Naarm/Melbourne and听狈驳耻苍苍补飞补濒/颁补苍产别谤谤补.