Kiwis attended events across the country today to stand in solidarity with Ukrainians on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Several hundred people gathered at Auckland's Silo Park this evening, with a range of speakers addressing the crowd.
A 1News reporter on the scene said that the mood was sombre, with many in the crowd remembering family in Ukraine amid fears that they will never see them again.
Ukrainian World Congress Australasian vice president Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler said her thoughts were with those on the front lines.
"They haven't seen their families I want them to be alive, I want them to unite with their families."
The gathering in Auckland is just one organised by the Ukrainian World Congress, who are holding gatherings in 700 cities across the world in the coming hours.
Poshyvaylo-Towler said 65 countries are uniting with Ukraine on the anniversary.
"This year, we're continuing to advocate for Ukraine. In New Zealand, we're advocating for democracy."
Ukrainian migrant Tetyana Tymoshenko said that today was a special day for her.
"On the one hand, I feel so happy because now I live in New Zealand. My family survived and I am here. But on the other hand, I feel sorrow in my heart and I want to cry every hour, every second about my country."
She said that she really appreciated New Zealand's support for the Ukrainian community.
"We really appreciate New Zealand's people and New Zealand's government for helping because it is a huge help."
Hundreds gathered on Auckland's waterfront and at Wellington's Civic Square to stand in solidarity with Ukraine as Russia's invasion continues. (Source: 1News)
Around 100 people gathered in Wellington’s Civic Square earlier today, singing songs and holding signs condemning the ongoing war.
Several also held sunflowers, an enduring Ukrainian symbol of peace.
Attendee Sheryn Elborne is part of a group that has protested outside the Russian embassy every Wednesday since the invasion began.
“We do it because, firstly, we wanted to stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian community," she said.
"It must be dreadful for them, and second, we wanted to tell the Russian ambassador and his staff that we in Aotearoa don’t want the war, we don’t support the war, and we want it to stop.”
She told 1News that she never thought that it would go this long.
“I thought maybe a month or two at the embassy would see us right, but clearly Putin is in there for whatever reason, and he’ll stay there until he finishes what he set out to do.”
Russia’s “brutal and illegal” invasion of Ukraine two years ago broke the country’s sovereignty, said European Union ambassador to New Zealand Lawrence Meredith.
“I think it's really important that both on the side of New Zealand and on the European Union we send a message to the Ukrainian people.”
Meredith commended New Zealand for standing “shoulder to shoulder” with Ukraine through continued support and sanctions.
“This is a war of values, standing up for democracy, freedom and the rule of law.”
$25.9m of assistance was announced yesterday, bringing Wellington’s total financial support to just over $100m since the invasion began two years ago.
Defence Minister Judith Collins said up to 97 NZDF personnel would continue to train Ukrainian soldiers and provide intelligence, liaison, and logistics support.
In addition to this, the package includes $6.5m to the UK's International Fund for Ukraine for weapons and ammunition procurement, $7m worth of humanitarian assistance, and $3m to the World Bank’s Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund.
New sanctions to counter evasion of current Russian sanctions are also being worked on.
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