The Ukraine flag was again flying over the County Hall in Abingdon today.
There was a minute of silence in workplaces and public places such as Abingdon Library to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Every Monday morning since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Abingdon Peace Group has stood vigil at Abingdon War Memorial. They stand there between 8:15 am and 8:45am. They stood there this morning in the cold after a light snow.
Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in 2014 and supported separatists in the East of Ukraine.
On February 24th, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. The invasion followed a build-up of the Russian army in 2021 and demands from Russia to stop Ukraine from joining NATO. The west’s dependence on Russian oil, gas, and Ukrainian products has led to inflation and shortages and affected people in the UK more directly than other wars in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Yemen.
Armistice Day is remembered with a gathering of Royal British Legion, civic leaders and members of the public at the war memorial on the 11th of November at 11 am.
Remembrance Sunday involves a church service at St Helen’s, then a more extensive gathering of Royal British Legion, civic leaders, armed forces, uniformed groups, and members of the public at the war memorial on the 13th of November from 10:50. That is followed by a march to the County Hall to salute the Mayor of Abingdon-on-Thames, Cllr Andy Foulsham, the Deputy Lieutenant for Oxfordshire and the Commanding Officer of Dalton Barracks.
There is also a tree in the Abbey Meadows, planted by the Abingdon Peace Group, in memory of all victims of war. The Ukraine war has had many victims, some of whom have come to Abingdon. There are also people from Syria.
The Abingdon Peace group were protesting against war on Monday morning.
What can any of use do?