A prayer vigil for Ukraine held on Monday (February 24th) at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Exile in Duke Street, Westminster marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.
The vigil was attended the mayor of Westminster, Cllr Robert Rigby, Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, head of the Ukrainian Church in the UK and Cllr Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council.
Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel, migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra and the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi also attended.
Two members of the congregation at a vigil held on the anniversary of the Ukrainian invasion by Russian troops in Westminster (Image: Westminster Council)
Government data has shown that since the war started up until October last year, Westminster Council had housed 1,071 Ukranian refugees through the government’s Homes for Ukraine programme.
Barnet has housed the most with 1,674 and Camden was third in north London housing 1,013.
Cllr Adam Hug, leader of Westminster City Council, said the gathering at the Ukrainian church was a “clear demonstration of the ongoing support for the Ukrainian people”.
He added: “From the beginning of this tragedy, Westminster has welcomed Ukrainian refugees to its heart and I’m proud we were able to find temporary homes with Westminster families for around 1,000 Ukrainians.”
Cllr Robert Rigby, Lord Mayor of Westminster, said: “Westminster is made up of many communities and this prayer vigil brought so many together.
“I hope that today that Ukrainians who fled their country three years ago and found a temporary home in the UK, including Westminster, felt the strength of support for them.
“As Lord Mayor I felt it was important to attend today’s event to demonstrate that Ukraine and its people remain in our thoughts.”
