Kingston Council joins the national effort to pay tribute to Ukraine
On Friday 24 February, Kingston Council will join the rest of the UK in a national one-minute silence to pay tribute to the bravery of Ukrainians and mark one year since the invasion of the country.
The Ukrainian flag will fly over the town’s Guildhall during the minute silence in a mark of continued support and solidarity with Ukraine. Throughout the past year, families across Kingston have welcomed over 370 Ukranians into the borough.
Leader of Kingston Council, Andreas Kirsch will join the Mayor of Kingston at the Guildhall to see the flag being raised. He said:
On Friday, we will mark one year since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Reflecting on the last year, I want to thank the people of our borough who have welcomed Ukrainians into their homes and our communities. I also want to acknowledge and pay tribute to the remarkable ongoing resilience of the Ukrainian people and assure them that Kingston will continue to stand with them.
Last year we became part of the City of Sanctuary network, signalling our continued commitment to welcoming those fleeing persecution. We are immensely proud to be a welcoming and inclusive borough.
Alina Ledenova moved to Kingston in 2022 under the Homes for Ukraine scheme with her son. Alina has since joined the council as part of our United for Ukraine team as a Housing Officer. She said:
The multicultural community in Kingston became a safe and welcoming place for my family - for me and my son. People are very kind, they smile every day and they try to help me. I got the support I needed when I first arrived here. I’m happy to live in Kingston, but a piece of my soul is always in Ukraine, with my husband.
You can watch the full video and learn more about Alina’s story below.
To find out more about hosting a guest from Ukraine or becoming a lodger, please visit our website for more information.