CAMBRIDGE City Council will join the local community in marking the one-year anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, by raising the Ukraine flag and lighting up the Guildhall on the market square in the colours of the Ukraine flag over the weekend.
Since the invasion of Ukraine on 24 February last year, 240 Cambridge households have opened their homes to people from Ukraine, and more than 500 people from Ukraine have been welcomed into the city through the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
From Thursday 23 February to Sunday 26 February there are a number of events taking place to mark the anniversary:
- Thursday 23 February, 5.30pm: ‘Revisiting the history of the Ukrainian language’ – a lecture given by Professor Michael Moser from the University of Vienna, moderated by Andrii Smytsniuk from Cambridge 4 Ukraine, will take place at the Knox Shaw Room, Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge. Booking is not required.
- From the evening of Thursday 23 to Sunday 26 February: Cambridge City Council will fly the Ukraine flag and light up the Guildhall on the market square in the colours of the Ukraine flag.
- Friday 24 February, 11am: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will lead a national one-minute silence from Downing Street.
- Friday 24 February, 7pm: Candlelight vigil on King’s Parade in central Cambridge, organised by Cambridge4Ukraine and Cambridge University Ukrainian Society. Find out more or respond to the event organisers on Facebook.
- Saturday 25 February, 2pm: A march from the War Memorial on Hills Road to King’s Parade in central Cambridge. Organised by Cambridge 4 Ukraine. Find out more about March for Ukraine or respond to the event organisers on Facebook.
- Sunday 26 February, 2pm to 3pm: Anti-war protest outside Great St Mary’s Church, organised by Russian-speaking residents of Cambridge, supported by Cambridge Russian-Speaking Society (CamRuSS).
- Sunday 26 February, 4pm: Service at Great St Mary’s Church with Ukrainian choral singing, organised by Cambridge 4 Ukraine. Find out more about Prayer for Ukraine or respond to the event organisers on Facebook.
Cllr Mairéad Healy, Executive Councillor for Equalities, Anti-Poverty and Wellbeing, said: “I’m sure that people from Ukraine will find the coming days difficult, with the anniversary on Friday being a particularly sensitive time. We want you to know that Cambridge stands in solidarity with you.
“I want to thank everyone who has played a part in welcoming people from Ukraine to Cambridge in the past year – whether as hosts through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, by supporting community group projects to help people settle in locally, or simply by being warm and welcoming. This weekend gives another opportunity for us to show our support for the people of Ukraine, by attending any of the events taking place in the city.
“Anyone who would still like to find out about becoming a host – it’s not too late. Visit cambridge.gov.uk/spareroom to find out more.”
