A memorial event for the Ukrainian victims of the Russian shelling of “Okhmatdyt” took place in Brussels. Participants called on NATO leaders to close the Ukrainian sky and condemn Russian actions. Ukraine’s representative in Belgium demanded the lifting of restrictions on the use of Western weapons and the imposition of new sanctions against Russia. A Member of the European Parliament supported continued support for Ukraine and called for unified action to ensure security.
Concerned citizens gathered outside the European Parliament in Brussels to honor the memory of the Ukrainians killed after Russia’s massive rocket attack. Following the shelling of the children’s hospital “Okhmatdyt,” people brought flowers and children’s toys to the building of the Ukrainian Hub.
Action After the Shelling of “Okhmatdyt”
Participants observed a minute of silence to honor the deceased. They then addressed NATO leaders, who are currently gathered at a summit in Washington, urging them to close the Ukrainian sky.
During the rally, Natalia Anoshina, the Charge d’Affaires of Ukraine in Belgium, spoke. She emphasized that the international community must more decisively condemn Russian atrocities and ensure these actions do not go unanswered.
“We must lift the restrictions that prevent the Ukrainian army from effectively defending itself. The current ban on the use of long-range Western weapons against Russian territory severely limits our defense capabilities since we cannot attack Russian military airfields and aircraft that so inhumanely destroy Ukrainian cities,” said Ukraine’s representative in Belgium.
The diplomat also called for more weapons to be supplied to the Ukrainian army and for the adoption of the next package of sanctions that would “destroy the Russian economy.” Petras Auštrevičius, an MEP from “Renew Europe,” also spoke at the event. He stated that despite the creation of the far-right group “Patriots for Europe” in the newly elected European Parliament, the European Parliament would continue to support Ukraine.
“We must fight every day and urge our parliament to move forward. A united Europe, Ukraine’s membership in the EU, security, and support for as long as needed. We must mobilize, forget about fatigue, and think about what else we can do in the future,” said the MEP.
