Thousands gather in Helsinki expressing solidarity with Ukraine

Several thousands of people on Monday gathered at the Senate Square in Helsinki and expressed solidarity with Ukrainian people and protested against the Russia´s attack on Ukraine.

Organized by Ukrainian Association in Finland, participants at the rally also demanded stronger action from the European Union to end the Russian aggression.

The rally began at about 12:30 pm amid a moment of ecumenical prayers for peace held in front of Helsinki cathedral, organised by the Helsinki's Evangelical Lutheran congregations, the Helsinki Orthodox Church, the Finnish Catholic Church and the Helsinki Ecumenical Council on the Easter Monday.

The demonstrators bearing Ukrainian flag and various banners and festoons strongly condemned the Russia´s attack on Ukraine and demanded withdrawal of all Russian forces from the country immediately.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, Ukrainian Ambassador to Finland Olga Dibrova and Helsinki Deputy Mayor Daniel Sazonov addressed the rally among others.

Finland is committed to supporting the work of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate international crimes committed in Ukraine in order to bring the perpetrators to justice, Haavisto wrote in his Facebook page in Finnish after the rally.

“Free Ukraine Free World- protest today filled the Senate Square. …. .A square full of people told me that Ukraine is not alone,” the Foreign Minister wrote.

Pointing out the speech of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky given remotely to the Finnish parliament on 8 April where he raised the issue of the reconstruction of Ukraine, Haavisto said that Finland can play an important role in rebuilding the schools in Ukraine.

“But before that, the end of the Russian aggression, ceasefire and peace are needed. Now we have to work for it,” Haavisto said in his post.

Ukrainian ambassador Olga Dibrova thanked the Finnish people for their all-out cooperation to the Ukrainians.

“Kiitos, Suomi( Thank you Finland). We will win!” she wrote in her twitter after the rally.

Renowned Finnish singers Maija Vilkkumaa and Elias Gould performed songs adapted for Ukraine and a poem of Ukrainian poet Lesya Ukrainka named "Contra Spem Spero (Against all Hope I Hope)" was also recited in both Finnish and Ukrainian language on the occasion.