Hackney councillors unite in condemnation of Putin’s ‘calculated act of brutality’ against Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been condemned by Hackney politicians who sent a “united message” to those caught up in the conflict.

They held a minute’s silence for the people of Ukraine affected by the war, which started a week ago.

The Town Hall was lit up in blue and yellow – the colours of the Ukrainian flag – and many councillors were wearing blue and yellow ribbons sold to raise funds for humanitarian aid.

Hackney’s speaker Michael Desmond visited Ukraine when he was doing outreach work with the Jewish community and told fellow councillors: “I know the country very well.”

He will be hosting a reception on Tuesday 15 March and is inviting Ukrainians living around Hackney and the Ukrainian ambassador.

He held similar events in Hackney in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea.

He said Ukrainians are “decent, peace-loving people” .

Following last week’s Russian invasion, a friend living there told him “it is a horror here but we are still hoping and praying”.

Cllr Desmond is working pupils at Urswick School on a ‘paintings for peace’ project. The designs will be photographed and sent to Sergey Cheremin, International Secretary of Moscow City Council, and to the Mayor of Kyiv.

Hackney Mayor Philip Glanville condemned the invasion of Ukraine as  “a calculated act of brutality created by Putin”.

He said that “this is about freedom and civilian lives”, and that solidarity matters.

He said Hackney is standing “with London’s Russian and Ukrainian communities and those in Hackney of Ukrainian descent” and said the UK must do more to help, whether it be sending resources or offering sanctuary to refugees.

He told fellow councillors at the last full council meeting before local voters go to the polls that if they were in the Ukraine now, the Town Hall could be a target.

“If we were in Kyiv or a city council in southern Ukraine, it is highly likely given the building we are gathered in, that the civic building would be targeted or we would be in a bunker or worse.”

Opposition spokesman Simche Steinberger said:  “It’s very worrying to see what’s going on.”

He added it was crucial to support refugees.

He said: “It’s very important at such a bad time we do whatever we can to show that we are united in Hackney and we won’t tolerate this threatening of other people’s lives.”

Mayor Glanville praised the community response, including collections of aid by the E5 Baby Bank, the Salvation Army and the £1,000 raised for a  humanitarian response Ukraine “in three short days”.

He reminded people that the De Beauvoir Welcomes Refugees and the De Beauvoir Association are hosting a fundraising event for Ukraine on Saturday 5 March from 6pm to 8pm at St Peter’s de Beauvoir on Northchurch Street.

Featured performers include Hugh Harris from The Kooks, performing solo, and a selection of other local musicians, as well as a reading by actor, children’s author and BBC announcer Zeb Soanes.

You can book tickets here.