Anniversary of War in Ukraine to Be Marked by March of Solidarity in Bratislava

Bratislava, 24 February (TASR) - The fourth anniversary of the outbreak of Russia's aggression in Ukraine is to be commemorated in Bratislava with a so-called March of Solidarity organised by a civil association called 'Peace for Ukraine'. The participants will gather on Hodzovo Square, from where they will move on to the Ukrainian Embassy. According to the organisers, commemorating the anniversary of Russian aggression will also serve as a protest against Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and his decision to request the suspension of emergency electricity supplies to Ukraine. "Ukraine is also fighting for the values on which a free Europe is based. Four years after the invasion began, we mustn't allow the war to become routine or fatigue from the conflict to weaken our support," said Marian Kulich of the 'Peace for Ukraine' association. The organisers stated that denying energy to civilians in times of war can be considered a crime against humanity. The participants in the march will commemorate the victims of the war and pay tribute to the defenders of Ukraine, while also calling for a reassessment of the Slovak government's position. The war in Ukraine began on 24 February, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a "special military operation" against Ukraine, and the war has become the biggest armed conflict in Europe since WWII. Russia currently occupies almost 20 percent of Ukrainian territory and attacks cities, villages and civilian infrastructure on a daily basis, resulting in the worst energy crisis since the invasion began. am/df