Ukraine invasion: Caernarfon stages solidarity rally

A rally has been staged in north Wales to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

About 200 people were at the protest in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, as assaults on Kyiv met fierce resistance.

Archbishop of Wales Andy John said he shared people's "outrage".

"We have to keep protesting that what we're seeing is not acceptable," he said in an interview with BBC Wales before Saturday's rally.

"This act of aggression was without provocation, and that has brought to Europe once more the kind of uncertainty we all thought, felt and hoped had long been abandoned.

"It doesn't need to be an endless cycle of war and of power being exercised by the strong against the weak."

Nataliia Roberts, originally from the Ukrainian city of Poltava, said she felt "horrible" and "hopeless".

"My friends, my family, are all struggling," she said.

"They are asking for help, their houses are under attack. They are innocent, they don't want this war."

Ms Roberts said Ukraine was "big and brave".

"They want Putin to stop," she said.

"Stop this please. We don't need it.

"Leave us alone."

Svetlana Hemminki-Emlyn, from Russia, said: "For the first time in my life I'm embarrassed that I'm Russian.

"I'm against this war, I'm against Putin. I have always been against Putin.

"I can say that Putin is not stopping at Ukraine.

"If someone thinks this is a local war, it's not."

Gareth Roberts has lived in the Ukraine and his wife is Ukrainian.

One of his family had joined the army there as a reservist.

"My granddaughter and her mother are on their way, or considering travelling to, Slovakia.

"That is a journey that will take them well over a day. There are a lot of things to consider like getting food and fuel and suchlike."

Other protests and vigils in support of Ukraine are being held across the UK.

Plaid Cymru Arfon MP Hywel Williams, who helped to organise the Caernarfon protest with Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said: "I am so glad that today in Caernarfon we join people across our continent and across the world who are saying no to this vicious and unjustified invasion.

"We call on our governments to act together to set aside their differences and we tell Mr Putin - put down your guns."

First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed on Friday that Wales will welcome refugees from Ukraine displaced by the invasion.

Archbishop Andy John said he hoped Wales would ensure if people "flee Ukraine they find they can settle for as long as necessary in this country".

Mr John, who also serves as the bishop of Bangor, added: "Do I want to make a personal appeal to President Putin?

"He won't listen to me, I suspect, but every voice that says 'there is an alternative, you don't have to do this', is a voice that, I think, is worth expressing.

"So I add my voice to the many who've appealed to him to step back even now from the brink of disaster."

Meanwhile, Mick Antoniw, the Welsh government counsel general and MS for Pontypridd is inviting people across Wales to light a candle on Sunday evening for those in Ukraine.

"Lighting a candle is a simple way of showing solidarity; to let the people of Ukraine know that they are in our thoughts and that we are on their side," said Mr Antoniw.

He returned to Wales on Wednesday after taking part in a delegation to Ukraine, where he has family.