On Saturday 24 February, on the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, marches and rallies organised by Ukrainian milieux and regional authorities took place in many cities in Poland. Speakers on the anniversary of the invasion included the President, the Prime Minister, the heads of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In Warsaw, the demonstration started in front of the embassy of the Russian Federation. In front of the entrance to the embassy, an art installation was created depicting tower blocks under fire. Crosses with the names of the people killed during Russia’s aggression against Ukraine were placed between them. Participants in the demonstration marched from under the embassy to the Sejm.

A march entitled ‘Together to Victory’ passed through the streets of Krakow, and a march under the slogan ‘Marathon of Unity’ passed through Toruń’s Old Town, whose participants carried a many-metre-long ‘flag of life’. In Lublin, the anniversary celebrations began with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the granting of the title ‘City of the Rescuer’ to Lublin.

The message on the anniversary day was posted on Twitter by President Andrzej. “From the very first moments, we Poles have been involved in helping the heroic Ukraine fighting against the Russian invaders. We are learning the lessons of the war across our Eastern border”, he pointed out.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on Twitter: “Two years of Ukrainian heroism. Two years of Russian barbarism. Two years of disgrace for those who remain indifferent”.

The head of the Ministry of Defence, Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, pointed out that Ukraine has been fighting for sovereignty for two years, the West has shown its unity, and Poles are proving that they are a nation of solidarity and big hearts. “This is a time that teaches us that we must take care of freedom and security every day”, he added.

The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, stressed that our neighbours are not fighting alone. “Ukraine is supported by European countries, by NATO, by Poland. President Volodymyr Zelenski says that there will never be a white flag flying over Ukraine, but always a yellow-blue flag. We believe that Russia will lose, Ukraine will win and will be part of a united Europe”, declared the Minister.

Arkadiusz Słomczyński