On 24 February, Edinburgh mourned the third anniversary since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea in 2014 but launched a full invasion on 24 February 2022. The significance of this anniversary is enormous, with over 10 million Ukrainians being either displaced or seeking refuge in another country and 43,000 lives being taken. A service to remember and mourn the anniversary took place in Edinburgh Castle with wreaths being placed by First Minister John Swinney, Oleksandra Zhyalkina, the President of the University of Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Society, and others.
The morning started with the quote “we fear what peace may look like, but still we work for it” and the ceremony held this sentiment throughout. Attendees sang the Ukrainian National Anthem and listened to the bible passage “John 5:24-25” spoken in Ukrainian by Andrii Madzianovskyi, a member of the Ukrainian Consulate in Edinburgh. First Minister John Swinney said: “Here in Scotland, we want to make sure [Ukrainians] feel a part of our community and that they live here with peace and security.” When asked if there was a message he wanted to share with Ukrainians at the university, Swinney responded “we want to make sure students feel welcomed and that they know we have an absolute commitment to continue helping Ukraine and hope for independence.”
The Lord Provost of Edinburgh does a reading at a commemoration service held in Edinburgh castle attended by Ukranian and Scottish leaders. Photograph by Rayna Carruthers.
At 3pm, a vigil was held in Bristo Square for students and others who wanted to support Ukraine. Around 30 students gathered outside McEwan Hall holding signs, whilst speakers read out poems and others lit candles. The Student took this time to ask what students’ hopes and fears are for the future.
Marina, a first year studying International Business came to Scotland due to the war and has lived here for around two years. She told us she likes living in Scotland but it’s hard to be away from Ukraine, especially because she didn’t choose to leave. When asked if the university had done enough to support her she replied “No, there hasn’t been much support, and if there is any, I certainly don’t know about it.” She added that what President Donald Trump has said regarding Ukranian President Vladimir Zelensky is “really stupid,” continuing, “our president is not a dictator, the other one [Vladimir Putin] is.” Recently, President Donald Trump made several comments about Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelenskyy, including calling Zelenskyy a dictator for not hosting elections while the invasion was ongoing.
Photograph of Marina, by Rayna Carruthers
Anna, a master’s student studying International and European Union Politics, told us she is very hopeful about the future, and grateful for the support she has received from the university and her peers. When asked about the recent comments Trump had made, she responded “I think people might believe what he is saying, which would be a mistake, but they could because its coming from a reputable source. He is the President of America.” She continued to tell us about her experience with the university: “I’ve found them to be very helpful, especially surrounding scholarships for Ukrainian refugees, however, I would like them to offer more emotional support, maybe hosting events which would allow for discussions or give more attention to the issue.”
Students and activists hold a vigil in Bristo square remembering the people who have died during the last three years of war in Ukraine. Photograph by Rayna Carruthers.
After lighting a candle and making a prayer for Ukraine, we spoke to Margo, a fourth year Theoretical Physics student who came to Scotland under a refugee visa. She spoke about the long and complicated process to register as a student at the university and to receive funding which is vital for students who have been displaced. She continued to tell us how the University of Edinburgh provided unreliable and badly timed communication and how often they would forget to tell her that she was no longer eligible for funding until the last moment. Margo explained that this poor communication has caused her to worry about how she will be able to pay her rent and afford to eat. She told us how much research she had done and how little Edinburgh had supported her, so when asked if she would like anything to change, she said “Funding is a huge issue that needs to be improved, alongside communication. The counselling is very helpful; however, the waitlist is too long, and the counsellors aren’t trained in supporting people with severe PTSD. If Edinburgh would like to support us fully then these are the things they need to improve.”
Photograph of Anna, by Rayna Carruthers.
The Ukrainian Society was continually brought up when asked what gave students support and a place to decompress and socialise with others who were dealing with the same issues. Oleksandra Zhyhalkina, or Sasha as her peers know her, is the President of the society and we sat down with her to hear what she had to say about the invasion, the future, her experiences, and what she hopes to give others through the society. “I cannot believe it has been three years since the invasion began, there is just a general feeling of unease all around. Once the war ends, there will be a divide in Ukrainian society as currently the only thing which is uniting us is the common enemy, and that’s a real fear for me and all Ukrainians.”
Photograph of Sasha, by Rayna Carruthers.
When asked about Trump, Sasha sighed and answered “I’m not surprised at all. I lived in America for a bit and knew he could lie; however, I didn’t expect him to use Ukrainian raw materials for negotiations, it’s such a disgusting political move.” Sasha had truly thought about how the university could provide useful support to her and others: “Currently, everything about Eastern Europe is being taught through the lens of Russia, if we are to expand discussions about Ukraine then we must break down how Eastern Europe is spoken about. There are a lot of great initiatives here at the university, and in particular the Ukraine Politics initiative is a good first step, but emotional support is something that really needs work.”
For Ukrainian students, the vigil shone a light on the struggle of loss, anxiety, and frustration that they experience daily. Yet it was a brief respite from a reality that seems ever more disturbing. As Reverand. Vasyl Kren stated during the vigil “you get used to it, but the pain is not forgotten.”
All photographs featured provided by Rayna Carruthers.