Dozens of Calgarians marched from a northeast church to the steps of Calgary City Hall to protest escalating violence and the wrongful confinement of political prisoners in their motherland.
Following the completion of Sunday morning’s service at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Catholic Church, demonstrators took part in the peaceful protest walk to raise awareness to issues in the Crimean region of Ukraine, an area occupied by Russian forces.
“I had to leave with my parents in April right after the occupation because I was afraid they were going to start a war,” explains rally organizer Anna Zakharovla. “There were men on the streets and I was afraid.”
Sunday’s protest followed rocket attacks in the port city of Mariupol, Ukraine, attacks which claimed 30 lives and injured dozens.
Since the conflict in Ukraine began, an estimated 5,000 people have been killed and 10,000 have been injured.
