Four days after Russia started its military offensive against Ukraine, the Bucks Council offices in Aylesbury were lit up in Ukrainian flags’ striking blue and yellow on Friday February 28.

Despite resistance by Ukrainian government, actions by the international military cooperation coalition NATO and global outcry, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and his troops have not backed down.

Hundreds of thousands of people have fled as refugees to neighbouring countries.

The current protracted conflict can be traced back to early 2014, when Russia annexed a part of Ukraine’s coast on the Black Sea, the Crimean Peninsula.

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Since then, fighting has wavered between the Russian separatists and Ukrainian troops in Eastern Ukraine.

Martin Tett, Leader of Bucks Council commented:

“We’re all horrified and utterly appalled by the events unfolding in Ukraine and the unlawful invasion of a peaceful European sovereign nation. It is frightening and destabilising to us all and we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people.

“We will be lighting up The Gateway building in Aylesbury tonight in blue and yellow, the colours of the Ukrainian flag, and will be flying the Ukraine flag from a number of our buildings this week, as a very clear and public sign of our support

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“We know many Buckinghamshire residents want to offer financial support too to help the people of Ukraine and the refugees being forced to flee their country. The British Red Cross and UNICEF have both launched appeals, the details of which can be found online.

The Council is ready to offer support to Ukrainians in the county and those, who might arrive, Mr Tett said.