Ukraine marks 1,000 days of war with vigils around the world

For people in Ukraine, in Canada, and around the world, today was a day to mark a thousand days of war. There are renewed calls tonight for continued support for Ukraine in its battle with Russia. The organizers of this candlelight vigil at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Church on Barton Street say this isn’t just about supporting Ukraine in this war; it’s about supporting the rest of the free world, including Canada, in the face of Russian aggression.

In Ukraine’s capital tonight, a sea of candles marked a thousand days of war—one thousand days since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the European Parliament that their support is vital to his country’s people: “Thank you for ensuring that not a single one of the 1,000 days of this terrible war became a betrayal of our shared European values.”

Here in Hamilton, a vigil was held to stand with Ukraine at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Church, calling for a thousand candles for a thousand days.

Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Elena Lazar is calling for more support for Ukraine in the war, saying Ukraine is stopping Russian aggression against Europe, which could eventually reach across the Arctic into Canada. Lazar says, “Ukraine really needs to exist, and right now they’re protecting all of us—including Canadians here and all of Europe—because we know Putin won’t stop with Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, as leaders of the world’s G20 countries meet in Brazil, Prime Minister Trudeau expressed disappointment in the group’s communique on Ukraine, which states that countries should refrain from using force to acquire land. Trudeau blames Russia for creating worldwide insecurity.

Trudeau says “Rising energy prices, disrupted supply chains, uncertainty, and insecurity for people around the world who are worried now that the world-based order no longer holds. So, yeah, I would have wanted to see things said much stronger in that communique. But the G20 is a collection of a whole bunch of different perspectives from around the world.”

With U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to be sworn in again in January, there are fears that he may back away from supporting Ukraine in the war.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress says Ukrainians in Canada are doing what they can in the face of the war.