Dthis holiday is different. On October 14, when Ukrainians honor the “defenders of the country,” hundreds of thousands of them scattered around the world, fleeing a war of aggression unleashed on them by neighboring Russia.
Solidarity rallies will be held in many cities around the world on Thursday in support of the country’s struggle for freedom. Also on the Frankfurt Römerberg. When the Ukrainian national anthem is heard and fervently sung along from many throats, it is clear that this time it is mainly Ukrainians who have gathered. At first there were only about a hundred, but the police counted up to 400 people, despite the persistent drizzle.
When a man in camouflage clothing approaches the microphones and is introduced to the crowd in Ukrainian, applause erupts. Not because Volodymyr Hendzera is famous, but the soldier from Ukraine is being applauded here on behalf of all those who are defending their homeland against Russian aggressors. He won’t speak, he’s disabled in the war and can only communicate quietly with a voice prosthesis on his larynx. On September 1, he was flown out of the war zone to Germany for treatment, and was treated at the Frankfurt University Hospital for almost three weeks. For him, who, according to his companions, had already defended Crimea against the Russian conquest in 2014, it was the second military operation. They say he volunteered. Gradually, Ukrainians come out of the audience and seem to thank him, Hendzera is visibly moved.
An alliance of various Ukrainian associations in the city, as well as Pulse of Europe, the Europaunion Frankfurt and representatives of the Greens, SPD, CDU, Volt and FDP in the city parliament called for the rally. Again and again the speakers demand more weapons for the defense of the country, but the Ukrainians among them are particularly passionate and urgent. SPD Vice Kolja Müller emphasizes that this demand goes beyond the possibilities of even the most well-meaning local politicians. “But we can support those who came to us from Ukraine, that too is a sign of solidarity.” Even more humanitarian aid, sanctions against Russia and the admission of Ukraine to the EU were also repeatedly called for that evening.
But above all: a victory over Russia. “Otherwise it would be the end of sovereign Ukraine, an end to respect for human rights,” says Victoria von Rosen from the Ukrainian Coordination Center. “Russia would continue,” she is convinced. “And which country would be next?”
