Foreigners including the Kyiv expat community marched on February 06 in Solidarity with Ukraine as it withstands increasing Russian aggression.
The solidarity march coincided with a large rally in Kharkiv the previous day.
Several foreigners, as well as Ukrainians, assembled at the Shevchenko park before walking down the hill towards Maidan Nezhalesnosti where they sang the Ukrainian National Anthem.
The aim of the march is to show the people of Ukraine that the rest of the world stands behind them in the face of this further Russian aggression
Stuart McKenzie, 51, from Scotland
Danish man Johannes Andersen, a freelance journalist and human rights investigator who has lived in Kyiv for 20 years, said he joined the march with his two children “out of a feeling of powerlessness facing unbelievable cynicism and aggression from Russia.” He took his kids with him “because I want them to learn to stand up for their rights.” — Kyiv Post
In Kharkiv, thousands took to the streets carrying banners saying “Kharkiv is Ukraine ” and “stop Russian aggression”.
Moscow denies its plans to attack Ukraine but has demanded security guarantees including a block on Ukraine joining the NATO alliance.
“The people came into the streets to demonstrate that Kharkiv is a Ukrainian city, and we will not surrender it,”
Nina Kvitko. Kharkiv resident.
Demonstrators in Kharkiv sang the National Anthem and waved the Ukrainian flag or held up flags of allies that have supported Kyiv including the United States, Britain and the European Union.
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