Poland in Australia

On the third anniversary of Russia’s armed invasion of the Ukrainian territory, at St. Mary’s Cathedral Square in Sydney, there was held a ceremony commemorating the victims of the war as well as all the people who have been resisting the Russian aggression for last three years.

The event was attended by many representatives of the Australian authorities: Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns, Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite, Senator Deborah O'Neill, MP David Coleman, Senator Dave Sharma, and Major General (Rtd) Mick Ryan AM., as well as members of the consular corps and representatives of churches and activists of the Ukrainian Council of NSW. On the square in front of the Cathedral, several hundred people, including residents of Sydney and representatives of the Ukrainian community in Australia, demonstrated their support for Ukraine.

In the presented speeches by the Premier of New South Wales as well as other speakers, Australia’s support for fighting Ukraine as well as the hope for an end to the war, were emphasized several times. The audience also listened to the ambassador of Ukraine, Mr. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, who thanked for the humanitarian and military assistance provided to his country during the Russian aggression. One of the most moving elements of the ceremony was the presentation of photos of soldiers who died while defending Ukraine’s independence and the presence of their family members who experienced the suffering of the war the most.

The message of the ceremony was continuous support for the Ukrainian resistance to the Russian aggression and its pursuit of a just peace.

 

Images by Giovanni Portelli/The Catholic Weekly