“Putin wants to wipe Ukraine off the map; please help us so this does not happen.
“We are a peaceful people.”
This was the message from the Ukrainian community across Cavan and Monaghan today.
They were out in force alongside their Irish neighbours, friends and politicians at the #CavanIstandwithukraine rally on the market square in Cavan town this afternoon.
They gathered in the sunshine to highlight the horror taking place in their homeland since Russia declared war eight days ago.
“It is a real war in full blast, people are being killed and the infrastructure is being destroyed,” Alina Yaroshchuk, who has been living in Ireland for nine years, told Northern Sound.
Members of her family are living in Ukraine and are “very afraid”.
“What is happening in my country is a tragedy but Ukrainians are strong,” she added.
“We do need more help from Europe because Putin must be stopped.
“I want to wake up [from this nightmare] but I can’t.”
Meanwhile, Cathaoirleach of Cavan, Cllr Clifford Kelly, who spoke at today’s event, described what Russia has done to Ukraine as “unjustified, unprovoked and immoral”.
“We look forward to a brighter future for Ukraine,” he told those gathered.
“A future in which we can bring Ukraine into the European Union and bring our two nations together."
