Standing with Ukraine

By Gavin Robinson MP

Last November on Armistice Day, I joined with hundreds of others to pay my respects at the War Memorial off the Montgomery Road. As I joined with the Cregagh Wandsworth branch of the Royal British Legion I reflected on those in attendance who have served in conflicts themselves, and some who are still serving. For those people, sacrifice isn’t an abstract concept. When they Remember, they do so personally and poignantly.

The conflict in Ukraine is less prominent in the headlines now than it was for much of 2022, but for people in that nation, their battle against the Russian invasion continues. A few hours after standing in the heart of East Belfast to remember those who fought in the Great War and other conflicts, I set off on the first leg of a journey to Ukraine as part of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

There were eight of us, MPs drawn from both government and opposition, who travelled through Moldova before crossing the border into Ukraine. Northern Ireland welcomed many refugees to stay with families here, but as we entered Ukraine it was encouraging to see that queues on the border stretched in both directions. Though a United Nations refugee camp lay just before the checkpoint, it was clear some mothers with young children were returning home.

As soon as we passed however, the signs of war and regrettably, defences prepared for further conflict, were clear to see. Beautiful agricultural landscape scarred with freshly dug trenches. Concrete sangers and hedgehogged steel girders welded into crosses peppered the highways and byways. Everywhere we went, the appreciation of our nations support for Ukraine was incredible. Without exception, the knowledge and gratitude for the UK providing the means of self-defence and our encouragement for international partners to do likewise was humbling.

Northern Ireland plays an integral role within our United Kingdom response. As well as sitting on the Defence Committee I am also Chair of the Aerospace Defence and Security Group at Westminster. East Belfast is a hub for many companies within the sector, and the factory manufacturing NLAW anti-tank weapons used in the Ukrainian defensive efforts lies less than a 10-minute walk from the war memorial where I stood in November.

Images from conflict are often harrowing, but amidst that, you can stumble across the bizarre and the joyous. It isn’t often you will see a pod of dolphins in a hotel swimming pool, but when the zoo in Kharkiv could no longer house them, the local hotel was able to provide them with a temporary home.

We toured a welfare relief centre, which prior to the invasion was one of the 120 schools in Odesa. Within it was their ‘English Room’ which was festooned with happy birthday banners from their celebrations for King Charles just a few days later.

Amidst the turmoil of war, there remains the need to continue with ‘normal’ life. While waiting to meet the General of the Southern Front, the sirens sounded, and we were whisked to an air raid shelter. Inside were a class of six and seven year olds learning English. Over a six-hour period whilst those children continued their education, 90 missiles were unleashed on Ukraine with 70 or so intercepted by air defence systems. There was a common thread throughout our visit. The resolve of the people we met was inspiring. The Military Governor and City Mayor both displayed a calm resolution to restore the splendour of their city. Until then, they need us to maintain our interest, invest in their survival and assist with their defence of our shared democratic values.