On February 24, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, causing many Ukrainians to flee their homeland, some reaching as far as Southwark. Here’s how the borough came together to show its support for those affected by the ongoing war…
England’s “most patriotic estate” raised a Ukrainian flag in solidarity, after the country’s invasion by the Russian army.
Residents of the Kirby Estate, on the corner of Southwark Park Road and Jamaica Road, put up the flag – and removed some smaller Russian flags from their collection of bunting.
Chris Dowse, who lives on the estate, said: “There’s not much we can physically do and so we’re showing our support any way we can.”
Russian Millwall fans called on both countries to end the conflict following UK sanctions.
Members of Millwall Supporters Club Russia – led by Maxim Prokhorenko, who is half Ukrainian – called for peace between the two countries.
“All common people I know in Russia, England, and Ukraine … are against the war,” he said. The UK sanctions on Russia included a travel ban – meaning those in Russia could no longer fly directly to the UK or via EU countries.
The alternative routes were and remain limited, so the group was concerned about being able to come over to watch games, as well as the overall effect of the war on both countries.
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Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals shipped vital medical supplies to Ukraine to help with the war effort.
Some 150 pallets of gloves and theatre gowns, as well as bandages, sutures, dressings, sanitisation materials, and other essential items, were sent to Ukrainian hospitals from Southwark.
Staff members from the Guy’s and St Thomas’ volunteered to find and package up the medical equipment, which was made up of donated and surplus items and some worked at the supply chain hub between shifts.
Southwark hospitals ship huge quantities of vital medical supplies to Ukraine
These individuals across Southwark were especially helpful in supporting victims of the conflict:
- A Walworth woman sent a 300kg care package of food, toys, and sweets to support about 50 orphans sheltering in a Ukrainian monastery. In total, Dorota Kowalska, 38, and friends David Pond, Nick Butler, and Markus Butler crowdfunded over £45,000 to support Ukrainian refugees in Germany, Poland, and Ukraine itself.
- A Ukrainian woman living in Peckham gave free English lessons to Ukrainians who fled to the UK, to help them integrate into the community. Alisa Masokha-Jones, 33, originally from Kyiv said as she didn’t have space in her home to take in refugees, this was the “next best thing” she could do to help, given her experience in teaching English.
- Larysa Moore, a Ukrainian woman living in Southwark, galvanised residents at a demonstration of solidarity on Odessa Street, a road in Rotherhithe named after the Ukrainian Black Sea port, that was attacked by the Russian military.
- Former MP Sir Simon Hughes led a ceremony to honour the victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Second World War, at the Peace Garden at the Imperial War Museum. Usually, the Russian ambassador would be invited, but this year saw Sir Simon campaign for him not to be invited and for the date to be changed considering the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine War: Walworth woman sends mega 300kg care package to Ukrainian orphans
Several Southwark public figures demanded visa waivers for Ukrainian refugees coming to the UK.
This came after Home Secretary at the time, Priti Patel, refused to waive all visa rules for Ukrainians fleeing the violence, citing security concerns.
MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, Neil Coyle called this “ridiculous Home Office nonsense” and said bureaucracy was “blocking” many Ukrainians from reaching safety in the UK – including some constituents.
The Bishop of Southwark, Christopher Chessun – called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a “shocking act of aggression” which has caused “a humanitarian crisis.”
Peckham and Camberwell MP Harriet Harman called for the government to “widen the categories for Ukrainians fleeing the war” who were able to come to the UK via family connections.
Ukrainians still need a visa to come to the UK, but the government later made some changes designed to make the application process easier.
Council leader Cllr Kieron Williams said, “as a borough of sanctuary”, Southwark would support its Ukrainian community in any way possible, as well as welcome those fleeing the conflict.
This was reflected throughout the year, with hundreds of Southwark households signing up to house Ukrainian refugees.
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