Report: 23.02.2025 – Peaceful event: 3rd anniversary of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine – Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Londonderry for the Consular District of Northern Ireland

The Honorary Consul for Ukraine in Northern Ireland was honoured to join colleagues from the Ukrainians in Northern Ireland Charity and many members of the Ukrainian Community and local people at an event at Belfast City Hall to mark the 3rd anniversary of the illegal invasion of Ukraine on Sunday 23rd February 2025.

Also in attendance were civic signatories, political representatives and consular officials from other nations evidencing their continued strong support for Ukraine.

The organisers goals were:

– to commemorate three years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine;
– to raise awareness about the ongoing war and remind people that it is far from over;
– to raise funds to purchase an ambulance to send to Ukraine;
– to honour and remember, with a moment of silence and candlelight, the Ukrainians and all fighters for peace who have lost their lives.
– emphasize on the topic of continuous genocide of Ukrainians in every occupied city and village;
– draw attention to the deaths of the civilian population, including innocent children, women, and the elderly.
– to express our gratitude to the people of Northern Ireland for their hospitality and support.

Most of the participants of the event were forcibly temporarily displaced Ukrainians – mostly women with children. Also many residents of the Northern Ireland joined to this event.

The event included:

Singing of the Ukrainian national anthem.
Speeches by several speakers sharing their thoughts and updates about Ukraine.
Stories displayed on posters, including some highlighting children killed in the war.
Updates on the current situation in Ukraine, as it is not always widely covered in the media.
Posters about children killed by Russia

Thanks to the speakers:

* Cllr Micky Murray – Lord Mayor of Belfast.
* Alan Moore OBE TD DL – Honorary Consul for Ukraine in Northern Ireland.
* Natalia Lapina (Kharkiv), Alisa Lymanska (Kramatorsk), Natalia Tikhonova (Kyiv), Yulia Horodnycha, Santa Poshtarenko – volunteers, forcibly temporarily displaced Ukrainian women;
* John Finucane MP.
* Peter McReynolds MLA.
* Professor Gerard McCann, PhD MA MEd FHEA, Principal Lecturer, International Coordinator, St Mary’s University College, Queens University Belfast.
* Jerome Mullen – Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland in Northern Ireland
* Peter Jennings – Ukrainian Aid, Derry/Londonderry.
* Oleg Shenkaruk – The Chairman of the Ukrainians in Northern Ireland Charity.

All speakers made their contribution to help Ukraine in 2022-2025 and continue to help us, for which we are infinitely grateful!

Special thanks to those who helped with this event:

* PSNI (Police service of Northern Ireland);
* Administration of Belfast City Council;
* Dawson Stelfox MBE DL representing HM Lord Lieutenant for Belfast;
* journalists who provided the media coverage;
* photographers: Alisa Lymanska Photography; Lyman Sky Videography; Viktor Bormotov;
* Memorial platform Меморіал: вбиті росією
* Keith Farnsworth – Specialist in sound for speech and music events in Northern Ireland – kdfsound.co.uk
* Milosz Stopka – StopCar Transport
* members of Ukrainians in Northern Ireland Charity;
* volunteers who help to provide this event;
* everyone who joined and supported the peaceful event.