Ukrainians protest in Malaga: "We need help to stop this madman"

Around 500 people gathered peacefully in Malaga city centre this Sunday, 27 February, to demonstrate the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops. Although the majority were Ukrainians they were also joined by Russians living in the province who wanted to show their support.

“We are not going to run away, we are not cowards and we will go out into the streets to defend ourselves. Ukraine is now more united than ever,” said Oksana who has been unable to sleep for several days because of the "rage" of seeing her country bombed by Russian troops, the "impotence" of knowing that her family and friends have to shelter in the basement and the "indignation" that the international community will not be able to stop Vladimir Putin.

Oksana has been living in Malaga province for 18 years. "Our family is near the border with Romania and, for now, they are fine, but we don't know for how long," she said. “We are continually calling our parents and siblings to check if they are okay. As soon as the connection fails, we fear the worst, but sometimes it's simply because they're hiding in the basement," she said, hoping "that all this will end soon, although I don't know how because Putin is sick and the sanctions won't stop him." Oksana referred to the economic blockade with which the EU and the US intend to stop Russia.

"No more sanctions, we need actions," said Roman, the husband of Oksana and father of her two little children, who raise a Ukrainian flag to show their rejection of the invasion. Like this family, who put down roots in Malaga almost 13 years ago, five hundred people gathered this Sunday to shout a resounding 'No to war'.

“We are hopeful that the European Union and the United States can stop this madman, because if he continues his attack on Ukraine, then he will want more. Putin has no borders," warned Vasily, who has been living on the Costa del Sol for a decade and defines the Russian president as "the number one terrorist".

For Natalia he is a "murderer" only comparable to Hitler. “He is attacking nurseries and hospitals to try to finish our nation,” said this Ukrainian who left Kyiv 20 years ago to earn a living in Malaga province, where some 11,500 Ukrainians reside. Now she suffers “in great pain and fear” as her people try to resist the Russian invasion. A conflict that, she said, she has seen coming for a long time.

Although the majority of those attending the demonstration were Ukrainians, Olga, who is Russian, also wanted to show her support. "We Russians do not want war, we are with the people of Ukraine and we want all this to end now," said this young woman who has lived in Malaga for five years.

Many local people also attended, such as Ana María Muñoz, for whom “it makes no sense that this should happen in Europe in the 21st century; it cannot be tolerated that one country invades another.”