London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Mar 30, 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
Russia Expels British Diplomat as UK Pushes Back Against Pressure
White House App Faces Scrutiny After Claims of Continuous User Location Tracking
BBC Faces Scrutiny Over Allegations of Paid Content Linked to Saudi Arabia
UK-France Coastal Patrol Agreement Nears Breakdown Amid Migration Pressures
UK Police Detain Pro-Palestine Activist Again Weeks After Bail Release
FTSE 100 Advances as Energy and Mining Shares Gain Amid Middle East Tensions
Eli Lilly Seeks UK Pricing Deal to Unlock Renewed Pharmaceutical Investment
Three Arrested in UK After Massive Cocaine Haul Discovered Hidden in Banana Shipment
UK Fuel Prices Poised for Further Surge Amid Global Energy Pressures
Apple Subsidiary Penalized by UK Authorities for Breach of Moscow Sanctions
Western Allies Intensify Coordinated Sanctions Strategy Against Russia
UK Lawmakers Face Criticism Over Renewed Push for Social Media Restrictions
Starmer Signals UK Crackdown on Addictive Social Media Features
Rising Costs Push One in Five UK Hospitality Businesses to the Brink of Closure
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder After Car Strikes Pedestrians in UK, Injuring Seven
Escalating Conflict Involving Iran Tightens Fiscal Pressures and Highlights UK Economic Vulnerabilities
UK Moves to Confront Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Operating in Its Waters
UK Housing Divide Deepens as Older Owners Hold Wealth While Under-30s Face Mounting Barriers
London Demonstration Calls on UK to Recognize Iranian Opposition’s Provisional Government
UK Green Party Vote on ‘Zionism is Racism’ Motion Collapses Amid Internal Disputes and Technical Failures
SNL UK Ignites Debate with Sharp Royal Satire Targeting Prince Andrew and Prince William
EU Proposes ‘Emergency Brake’ to Resolve Deadlock in UK Youth Mobility Talks
Thousands Rally in London to Oppose Rise of Far-Right Movements
Hong Kong Official Rejects Allegations of Surveillance Orders Targeting UK-Based Dissidents
PayPal Expands Cryptocurrency Services to Allow UK Users to Buy and Sell Bitcoin
UK Minister Challenges Reform Party’s ‘Pro-Family’ Agenda as Debate Intensifies
Concerns Grow Over Meningitis Risk Among UK Students Amid Warning Signs of New Outbreaks
Japanese Grand Prix 2026: Schedule, UK Start Times and Full Broadcast Details
Electric Vehicles Seen as Strategic Solution to UK Fuel Reserve Concerns
Rise of Lone-Actor Threats and Online Radicalisation Drives New Wave of Antisemitic Attacks in the UK
Canada Advances Plan to Ban Cryptocurrency Donations in Election Campaigns
UK Faces Looming Medicine Shortages as Iran Conflict Threatens Supply Chains
Deadly Meningitis Outbreak in the U.K. Highlights Urgent Need for Vaccination
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
×