Stirling's Ukrainian community takes to city centre for silent protest after dam destruction

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Members of Stirling’s Ukrainian community took part in a ‘silent picket’ in the city centre on Tuesday following the breaching of a dam in the south of the country.The Nova Kahkovka dam was destroyed over recent days, causing water to surge towards several cities and towns in the south of the war-torn country, including Kherson.It is described as a crucial resource for the region, with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky claiming in the aftermath of the incident that up to 80 towns and villages may be left flooded as a result.Mr Zelensky has blamed Russian forces for the destruction of the dam, with Moscow turning the blame for the incident on Ukrainian shelling.In response to the dam’s collapse and with the waters of the river Dnipro continuing to cause major issues in the south of the country, a small group of protesters took to Stirling to protest Russia’s role.The group claim Russian forces have committed a “great crime” and say the undermining of the dam could lead to an “ecological disaster” for the affected Kherson region, as well as causing a shortage of drinking water in the southern areas of Ukraine.After a survey to a local group set up for Ukrainians living in Stirling, the ‘silent picket’ was arranged for 5pm on Tuesday evening, with the protesters carrying posters and marching from Lower Bridge Street into the city centre.The event’s organiser, Anna Yanenko - who is originally from Chernihiv - told the Observer: “I was very pleased that people were interested, sympathised and supported our country.“The purpose of our protest is to convey to the world what Russia is doing - it kills people, animals and destroys the ecosystem.“Only by uniting together will we be able to defeat them.”Another of those in