UKRAINIANS studying at Durham University have staged a rally in their adopted city to denounce the Russian invasion of their homeland.
Draped in the yellow and blue flags, with the colours of their country on their cheeks, students addressed crowds gathered in the historic Market Place.
Cardboard signs said ‘Stop War’ and ‘Hands Off Ukraine’ as speakers told of their heartbreak at the senseless slaughter on their city’s streets.
Sharing a sense of defiance at President Putin’s aggression with their own charismatic leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, there were passionate chants of Glory to Ukraine.
Read more: Who is Volodymyr Zelensky? Comedy background of Ukrainian president who is standing up to Putin
Here, these young people could be forgiven for struggling to concentrate on their studies, and say they are glued to news channels and social media for updates on loved ones.
At home, a mere 1,400 miles away, their parents and siblings are preparing Molotov cocktails and learning how to use a Kalashnikov to repel invading forces and defend their territory.
Tetiana Loiko, 21, who is in the third year of her law degree at Durham, said her parents normally run a property business in Kyiv, but despite being in their late 50s, they will be joining the resistance.
Tetiana said: “I am waking up and checking the news, checking lists of people who have died to see if my parents or anyone I know is on them.
“It is very, very, very stressful. I call them a couple of times a day. My dad has just signed up for the Territorial Security.
“He is going to do shifts at the block posts. He is going to protect. He is going to fight. These are the people who the government has given arms to, given weapons to, and they are going to be protecting their territory.”
Tetiana said her parents are preparing Molotov cocktails and have the materials they need ready.
She said: “Their bottles are clean and ready, the cloths that are needed are all cut up. They are ready to go as soon as they are needed.
“It is better if they are fresh. When there is nothing to do, they prepare to make Molotov cocktails.”
She said: “It is terrible. My world completely changed on February 24 at 5am.
“Someone called me saying everything is bombed.
“I was having a panic attack after calling my parents and they did not reply for the first 30 minutes. Eventually they called and told they are alive.
“At first it was military bases but now they are shooting civilians. A lot of kids are dead. You do not know if you will be the next target. None of us are sleeping.
“I am really worried about my family and my people. It is devastating hearing about the death of civilians and kids.”
Daryna said her brother and my dad are training for the territorial defences and her family is also making petrol bombs, having done so previously during the Ukrainian revolution of 2014.
Daryna said: “Ukraine is fighting for Europe and the whole world, taking into account that Putin is threatening the world with nuclear weapons.
“Ukraine is fighting for the world not just its people and its own sovereignty.
“Ukrainians are being so brave is stopping this monster and it clearly shows we do not want to be part of that country.”
More than 360,000 people have fled their homes since the invasion started on Thursday, according to the UN refugee agency.
It is understood more than 4.5 million more could follow if the fighting spreads.
The Market Place rally follows on from another demonstration at Bill Bryson Library in Durham on Friday.
Yasemin Senai, who is 21, and studying politics and Arabic, helped organise Monday’s rally in the Market Place.
She said: “I cannot imagine what the Ukrainian people are going through.
“It is just horrible and terrifying. It is crazy that Putin is talking the way he is in 2022. It is like a movie and anything could happen at any given moment.
“The support group in Durham has grown so quickly and everyone is on a similar wavelength.
“Everyone is in support of the people of Ukraine.”
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