London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Mar 28, 2026

Ukraine conflict: Protests against invasion by Russia held in Scotland

Ukraine conflict: Protests against invasion by Russia held in Scotland

Ukrainians in Scotland have joined demonstrations against the Russian attacks on their homeland as they urge the UK to use further sanctions.

Russian troops entered Ukraine on Thursday, reaching the capital city Kyiv on Friday morning.

Demonstrations in Edinburgh and Glasgow are part of a Europe-wide protests against the Russian invasion.

Those leading the protests in Scotland said the escalation of Russian violence was "deeply worrying".

Anti-war demonstrations in support of Ukraine have also taken place in Russia, where police made hundreds of arrests in cities including St Petersburg and Moscow.

In Scotland, there has been cross-party condemnation of the military action, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon describing the Russian air strikes and border breaches as "appalling and horrific".

Glasgow City Council has made moves to suspend its twinning arrangement with the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don.

And the flag of Ukraine is flying at Glasgow City Chambers at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh. A number of councils said they would light up buildings in blue and yellow in a mark of solidarity.

In Edinburgh - which is twinned with Kyiv - crowds gathered outside the Russian Consulate in Melville Street for a second day.



Hundreds chanted "slava Ukraini" (glory to Ukraine), with many bringing Ukrainian flags and anti-Putin signs.

A bagpiper played Ukraine's national anthem and some Ukrainians addressed the crowd through a megaphone, calling for more Western help to resist the invasion.

Afterwards protestors lit candles at nearby St Mary's Cathedral.

Earlier Peter Kormylo, from the Edinburgh Ukrainian Club, told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland the demonstrations would have little impact on the Russian leaders, and the UK and US sanctions were "too little, too late".

"I'm very, very sad this morning," he said. "I'm absolutely convinced that these sanctions should even yet be made more severe."

Candles were lit by protestors in Edinburgh


Mr Kormylo, who regularly visits family and friends in Ukraine, said the attack was not unexpected because Ukrainians had become "extremely distrustful" of Vladimir Putin.

"What I think is beginning to frighten people, certainly the people I'm speaking to, is the cyber attacks," he said. "In all of this bombing and shelling people are still using their phones to stay in touch with each other, with loved ones.

"As soon as those facilities are cut off that's when people begin to, not so much panic, but be afraid."

'Massive support'


In Glasgow's George Square members of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) held an afternoon vigil.

Dr Yevgen Gorash, AUGB Glasgow vice-chairman, was spending a second day there, having met members of the Ukrainian diaspora in the square on Thursday.

"There was nothing else we could do," Dr Gorash told the BBC. "The only thing we could focus on was to show that we are there and we have got the massive support of the local people and massive attention.

"We would like everyone to join us and meet us, talk to us. We need your attention and we need your support."

Yevgen Gorash said the situation in his homeland was deeply worrying


The Strathclyde University research fellow, who has lived in Glasgow for 10 years, said Ukraine's second biggest city Kharkiv, where his family live, was under siege.

"Yesterday morning when the Russian army and tanks proceeded very quickly to the outskirts of the city, but the [Ukrainian] army was able to stop them," he said.

"[My parents] can still hear the shelling and explosions but they are quite far away on the outskirts of the city. Inside of the city everyone seemed to be safe - many people spent the night in the bomb shelters and also in the underground."

But he added: "It is deeply worrying."

A residential building in Kyiv was damaged after Russia launched a massive military operation

Some Kyiv residents sheltered in underground metro stations overnight


Dr Gorash said he did not believe the sanctions being put in place against Russia were enough.

"It is already the most catastrophic scenario that no one would imagine in the 21st century in the geographical centre of Europe, with a 50 million-people nation under threat of annihilation," Dr Gorash said.

"Just economic sanctions are not enough. Putin has prepared for them.

"What is needed is full engagement of United Nations with peacekeepers, European Union with economic support, and open borders, and Nato. Without Nato we wouldn't survive."

Russian national Anzhela Erdem went to George Square to show solidarity with Ukrainians


Russian national Anzhela Erdem, who has lived in Scotland for 12 years, went to George Square to show her support for the Ukrainians.

"I've been devastated and shocked and ashamed, to tell the truth," she said.

"I came here to show my support, to show that I am against this cruel war and let people know that not all Russians support this war."

She said many Russians believed Putin was taking "small military actions" against terrorists to free Ukraine.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Fresh Claims Emerge Over Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit as Insider Speaks Out
NATO Assessment Indicates UK Defence Spending Has Fallen Below Alliance Average
FTSE 100 Slips as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Investor Sentiment
UK Economy Begins to Feel Early Impact of Iran Conflict as Policy Challenges Intensify
Russian National Jailed in UK After Assault Case Linked to Barron Trump’s Alert
Energy Price Surge Accelerates Shift Away from Fossil Fuels in UK Homes
UK Museums House More Than 260,000 Human Remains, New Report Reveals
Surging UK Gilt Yields Reflect Inflation Pressures and Fiscal Uncertainty
UK Issues Updated Guidance on Children’s Screen Time with Focus on Balance and Wellbeing
UK Migration Figures Show Shifting Trends Across Asylum, Visas and Channel Crossings
UK Watchdog Launches Probe into Five Firms Over Alleged Fake Reviews and Ratings
Jaguar Land Rover Halts Production at UK Plant Amid Supplier Disruption
UK Police Reverse Position, Confirm Arrests Will Resume for Palestine Action Protests
UK Small Businesses Face Europe’s Steepest Cost Pressures, New Survey Reveals
US Envoy Urges UK to Proceed with King’s Visit Amid Diplomatic Sensitivities
FTSE 100 Drops Over One Percent as Middle East Tensions Weigh on Markets
UK CO2 Plant Set to Reopen as Authorities Move to Safeguard Supplies Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Urges Stronger Defence Investment as He Questions Allied Naval Capabilities
New COVID Variant Detected in UK Raises Concerns Over Vaccine Effectiveness
FTSE Russell Moves to Standardise Free-Float Rules for UK and International Listings
HBO Max Launches in UK and Ireland, Marking Major Step in Global Streaming Expansion
UK Signals Readiness to Seize Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels in Escalation of Sanctions Enforcement
Escalating Middle East Conflict Seen as Major Threat to UK Economic Stability
Early Challenges Mark Prince Harry and Meghan’s Australia Visit
UK Government Rejects Cover-Up Claims After Theft of Former PM Aide’s Phone
Cyprus Opens Strategic Talks with UK Over Sovereign Base Areas
UK Faces Risk of Sharp Inflation Surge Despite Stable Pre-Crisis Figures
UK Police Arrest Two Over Suspected Antisemitic Arson as Iran Link Investigated
UK Inflation Holds at Three Percent Ahead of Oil Price Shock from Iran Conflict
UK Fuel Prices Face Upward Pressure as Global Oil Trends Raise Cost Outlook
Girlguiding UK Sets September Deadline for Membership Policy Change Affecting Trans Participants
Germany and UK Accelerate Wind Power Expansion to Strengthen Energy Security
UK Moves to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations to Political Parties Over Foreign Influence Concerns
UK and Turkey Finalise Major Air Defence Agreement Worth Billions
Apple Introduces Mandatory Age Verification for iPhone Users in the UK
Diverging Views Emerge Over Meghan Markle’s Planned Australia Appearance
Trump Signals Frustration with UK Leadership Amid Diverging Approaches to Iran Conflict
UK Government Takes Control of Hunterston B as Landmark Nuclear Decommissioning Begins
UK Public Inflation Expectations Jump Sharply in March, Raising Pressure on Bank of England
UK Ministers Warn Expanded North Sea Drilling Would Deepen Exposure to Global Energy Volatility
Delayed UK Defence Investment Plan Leaves Suppliers Under Severe Financial Strain
Can Iran Strike the UK? Assessing the Real Military Threat as Conflict Escalates
Sanctioned Iranian Banker Linked to Luxury Marbella Villa Through UK Corporate Structure
Casey Bloys Navigates HBO Max UK Launch, Paramount Integration and Industry Buzz Over Netflix Meeting
Iran Conflict Sparks Sharp Turbulence in UK Mortgage Market, Reaching Pandemic-Era Disruption Levels
Major Donor Urges University of Kentucky to Reconsider Mitch Barnhart’s Post-Retirement Role
United Kingdom Moves to Lead International Effort to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
UK Police Investigate Targeted Attack on Jewish Ambulance Vehicles
Senior UK Advocate Criticises Barnhart Retirement Appointment, Calls for Reconsideration
×