Crowds have been gathering since the morning in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw to protest against Russia's invasion into Ukraine. Among the protesters there are Poles, Ukrainians, and even Russians who do not identify with Vladimir Putin's policy. Some of them are holding banners saying "not in my name". Traffic at Belwederska Street has been blocked.
According to tvnwarszawa.pl reporter Tomasz Zieliński, a few hundred people gathered in front of the Russian Embassy in Warsaw on Thursday. "The protesters sang out national anthems of Ukraine and Poland. They are holding banners saying: 'Stand with Ukraine', 'Putin is a killer' and 'Stop Russian aggression'. They also unfolded a gaint flag of Ukraine," Zieliński said.
The reporter said that also Polish politicians were present at the protest. One of them, a left-wing MP Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, said that "aggression against Ukraine is aggression against Europe". "That's why we're here, to express our solidarity and support, as well as to assure we, as members of parliament, will take action to provide as much help as possible here in Poland," she added.
Apart from Poles and Ukrainians, the protest was also attended by Russian citizens who did not support Vladimir Putin's policy. They held banners saying "not in my name". "Russia is Putin's captive. Large part of the society does not support what Putin has done to Ukraine," said Valentina, one of the Russian protesters.
She added that despite long years of propaganda and lies they have been hearing throughout recent years, "Russians also protest against aggression against Ukraine". "It's very courageous as they really risk a lot by voicing their protest against Putin," she stressed.
Trzaskowski: Warsaw will support Ukraine
We are ready to help and cooperate. Warsaw will rise to the challenge," Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski said on Thursday after a meeting of a crisis team.
He assured that Warsaw stood in support of Ukraine. "We are in communication with our partner cities: Kiev, Odessa or Kharkiv," he said.
He pointed out that in Poland it's the government that is responsible for handling crisis situations. "We, on the other hand, are ready to cooperate. In this time, we must first and foremost cooperate. I assure that the cooperation will met the highest standards," the mayor said.
Warsaw will welcome refugees
Trzaskowski also informed that the city hall would ask the government about organisational, legal, and financial solutions. "We need a government strategy. Those in charge should share this strategy with us," he argued.
He also confirmed that the government informed the city hall about the necessity to prepare shelter for refugees. "We have provided very precise figures Warsaw is prepared for, but if those in charge do not want discuss numbers, let's hold on with declaring any concrete figures. We are ready. We have prepared places to be ready for various scenarios," the mayor said.
He added that all services reporting to the city hall were ordered to immediately relay all incidents, should there occur any, related to security issues. "So far none such incidents have been reported," he said.
Information centres
Volunteers will begin appear in the streets. "We will create support centres for Ukrainian men and women. We're cooperating with non-governmental organisations," Rafał Trzaskowski said.
He also stressed the importance of solidarity. "I'd like to ask all residents of Warsaw to show solidarity. So that all Ukrainians who are among us know they have friends in us. This may be a kind word or a Ukrainian flag in the window. This may be an expression of support in social media. I appeal, let's do it because it's important," he pleaded.
Ukrainian flag at Warsaw City Hall
"All official institutions that want to may display Ukrainian flags. Warsaw City Hall too. The Palace of Culture and Science will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag," said Warsaw City Hall spokesperson Monika Beuth-Lutyk.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, tvnwarszawa.pl