BREAKING: OVER 200 STUDENTS ATTEND A FREE UKRAINE PROTEST IN THE FACULTY OF ARTS BUILDING

A ‘Free Ukraine’ protest occurred on the ground floor of the Faculty of Arts building on the University of Warwick’s campus today.

It is estimated that over 200 students sat on the steps in solidarity with Ukrainian, Russian and Polish students at Warwick. The protestors were holding Ukrainian flags, as well as signs reading: “FREE UKRAINE”.

The protest began with student co-organisers of the protest speaking about the origins of the conflict, the current casualties in Ukraine and Russia, as well as Western response to the crisis.

One of the female speakers discussed how Warwick University is yet to release a statement on the conflict, saying that: “Warwick University has not released a statement on a crisis that affects their own students. Release a statement Warwick.”

The organisers also joined protestors who sat on the steps to chant: “Stop the War!” and “Release a statement”.

After the chanting, a student from West Ukraine spoke about her family, and her worries for their safety.

One by one, Russian and Ukrainian students spoke about how “devastating” the conflict is, and urged students not to “believe any Russian state propaganda” on the current crisis.

Student speakers told their stories about Kyiv and also urged Polish students to donate blood citing that supplies at blood banks are running low.

The University of Warwick has been contacted for a comment on this issue.