Düsseldorf/Dortmund/Cologne (dpa/lnw) - On the anniversary of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, numerous solidarity rallies will be held in North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday to commemorate the suffering of the Ukrainians. Help for the now more than 225,000 people who have fled to NRW from the Ukraine alone is also a focus on the anniversary.
Rallies, vigils and minutes of silence are planned in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Dortmund, Bochum and Münster, among others. In Bonn, an installation with 438 children's shoes is intended to draw attention to the smallest victims of the war.
On Friday (11:00 a.m.) in the State Chancellery, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, on behalf of the citizens of North Rhine-Westphalia, honored Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and Cologne’s Mayor Henriette Reker (independent). In gratitude for supporting Ukraine and welcoming refugees, Archpriest Volodymyr Chayka awards them the "Order of the Holy Archangel Michael".
In the evening, a demonstration and rally is planned in Cologne, organized by the German-Ukrainian association "Blau-Gelbes Kreuz". Speakers include Wüst and Reker as well as Economics Minister Mona Neubaur (Greens).
