Demonstrations in Amsterdam and Utrecht mark three years since Ukraine invasion
Events are being held in Amsterdam and Utrecht on Sunday to mark the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022. The gatherings, organized by Ukrainian advocacy groups and supported by government officials, are to honor victims of the conflict and to reportedly call for continued international support.
In Amsterdam, a demonstration is set to begin at 14:00 on the Dam, organized by the foundation Oekraïners in Nederland. Attendees will observe a moment of silence for those who have lost their lives, listen to speeches, and hear renewed appeals for aid to Ukraine.
Later in the afternoon, at 16:00, a national commemoration event titled "Hearts and Minds for Ukraine" will take place in Utrecht. The gathering will start at Kinepolis near the Jaarbeurs convention center, where a documentary will be shown, followed by a speech from Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans. Afterward, participants will march in silence to the Domplein, where Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp is scheduled to address the crowd.
“On this Sunday, the day before we mark the start of the brutal Russian invasion, we come together to show our strength and resilience,” the organizing committee stated. “We gather to support each other and to remember those who have fought and continue to fight for a free Ukraine, as well as those we have lost.”
The Utrecht event marks the beginning of a series of commemorations planned across the Netherlands on Monday. A memorial concert organized by the Ministry of Defense will take place in the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague that afternoon.
