London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

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
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×