Get out of Ukraine. It’s not your country. Freedom for Ukraine! – Mayor’s message to Putin
By Andy Spearman
West Street was a sea of Blue and yellow this afternoon as hundreds, of people of all political persuasions and none, came out in support of the people of Ukraine and to express their repugnance for the vile acts of aggression being committed against them and their country.
The mood of the rally was best summed up by one of the organisers, Elena Babiyo, a Ukranian woman now resident in Drogheda, who said:
“My message to Vladimir Putin is that the flame of democracy has taken a firm hold in Ukraine and it will not be extinguished by you. This time you have miscalculated and the invasion of Ukraine will be your downfall.”
Deputy Ged Nash who was very much involved in organising today’s event, said that the mere fact that the people of Drogheda and South Louth attended in such numbers sends out an incredible message.
“It tells our friends in our large Ukranian community that we support you, we stand in solidarity with you and we share your pain and we are here for you in your time of need. Today we will be with you and your compatriots every single step of the way.
He said that Putin is a war criminal and this war is an attack on the value system that binds Ireland and Ukraine together.
“The things we cherish such as democracy, the right to choose our governments and respect for the rule of law including international law, the right to live in freedom to work and raise our children in peace are the very values being defended street by street across Ukraine” he said. “Putin is the enemy of those values and he must be stopped.
“Ireland can never be neutral when a democracy is attacked by an autocrat, when civilians are being targeted and killed and when entire cities are being levelled by an out of control dictator.
“We must all as Irish citizens and Europeans stand up to Putin and we can start be sending his henchmen in Ireland home and by fast tracking membership of Ukraine to the EU which has been delayed for too long.”
Natasha Ibanez was next to the mic and she started by thanking everyone for coming saying that the most important thing that ordinary people can do is to show their support by attending events such as this rally.
She said she had spent this morning trying to organise two of her sisters to flee the country aftertheir life has been torn apart. She said also that she had lost all communications wither friends and family for the past two days.
“This is not a conqueror’s war they are not trying to conquer us, they are trying to wipe us out” she said.
Another of the rally organisers, Elena Babija reiterated that it was such an important thing for the people of Ukraine to know that they have the support of the people of Ireland as they face into this struggle.
She said that her people wanted just the one thing and that was peace. “It is nothing short of a tragedy that it is being denied to them” she said.
“I shudder at the thought that in the 21st century, the century of advancement and prosperity, that my people are sheltering from bombs in an underground basement.
“…Ukraine is home to 38 million people but today they are being brutally attacked without provocation or reason. Beautiful cities that were once thronged with people are now reduced to rubble and ash.
“The Russian dictator has shamelessly said he is liberating such cities but every day this war is getting worse and worse and people are living in fear of yet another attack and living without food and water.
“The peaceful and peace-loving people are perishing before our eyes … in just over a week this war has already claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced over a million more…if the aggressor Putin is not defeated Europe will have a very dangerous enemy at its gates.
“To the people of Russia I beg you to have the courage to stand up to this act of terror and stop this war. You have 140 million people, you have what it takes to make a difference, take a stand.
“To the cowards of Russia your crimes will never be forgiven. To my beloved Ukraine and my fellow Ukrainians currently fighting bravely across Ukraine, I pray that you stay strong.”
She finished by quoting a phrase from the Ukranian national anthem which says: We will lay down our body and soul for our freedom.”
“The heroes of Ukraine are doing just that” she said, “and they will continue until our battle is won. I pray for every soldier who has died fighting an honourable death fighting for the freedom of our nation. We promise your legacy will live on and you will be remembered.
“The Ukraine people will not fall to their knees, they will not surrender their freedom, their homes, and their peace.”
Mayor of Drogheda James Byrne brought proceedings to and end by saying that his thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people as they continue to face the horrors of an unjustifiable and inhumane war inflicted on their country by Vladimir Putin.
“Ukraine is a sovereign nation and you have a right to live in peace, you have a right to prosper and you have a right to be free” he said.
“Vladimir Putin is nothing but a war criminal who will pay for his actions but I am concerned about the many innocent people who will pay with their lives in the meantime because of his crazed agenda.
“I have so much admiration for the Ukrainian people at home and across the world, your leaders and particularly your president Volodymyr Zelensky for the way you have taken up arms to defend your proud nation so courageously in the face mortal danger. You have defiantly stood up to a tyrant to save your country and I salute you.
President Zelensky is pleading for more help and I want to say this to European leaders, NATO, the US and others – “Please do more to help Ukraine”.
“To those arriving in Ireland, and indeed Drogheda, seeking refuge I want to extend my hand of friendship and a cead mile failte to you. You are most welcome here for as long as you need. We are here for you.
“I want to thank the people of Drogheda, particularly our school children, for the amazing efforts you have undertaken in recent days to do what you can to send help to Ukraine.
“I have heard of and seen so many examples of fundraising, collections of clothes, medicines and the like for our fellow Europeans in their darkest hour of need. Keep it going please.
To Vladimir Putin I’ll say this much: Get out of Ukraine. It’s not your country. Freedom for Ukraine!
