As Ukraine continues to defend its existence from the Russian invasion, there was perhaps no location in Prague that better represented the emotions of its people than Wenceslaus Square on the evening of the 24th of February 2023. Anger and sadness, pride and gratitude filled the square, and in all the speeches and cries to the glory of Ukraine and its allies was the desire to be known, recognized, in mind, and respected, not just in the hearts and minds of the world, but also of Ukrainians themselves.

A year on from the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, one may be forgiven for thinking that support in the Czech Republic has faltered, even if recent polls by the STEM Agency show stable support. Indeed, compared to the protest that filled Wenceslaus Square a year prior, Friday’s demonstration seemed more compact, potentially due to it being primarily organised by associations representing the Ukrainian community and charities, such as Svitlo and Člověk v Tisní, respectively. However, what it may have lacked in pure numbers was more than made up for in the passion of those present. At the foot of the statue of Saint Wenceslaus facing the National Museum, itself still bearing a Ukrainian banner, blue and yellow flags filled the square, interspersed by the red and white of the Belarusian democratic opposition and a handful of Czech flags. As a French student I spoke with pointed out, many of those present were young and women.

Adding to the chants that were common at prior protests — ranging from declaring Russia to be a terrorist state, demanding more weapons for Ukraine, and ending business in Russia (pushed by a recent study showing that a majority of western companies still do business “as usual” in Russia) and Ukrainian patriotic salutes – were new demands of removing Russia from the UN. With Russia inheriting the permanent seat of the Soviet Union on the United Nations Security Council, it maintains veto power against any proposed action against its invasion, which has been argued by diplomats of multiple nations to be in blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations. While consistently losing votes against its acts in the UN General Assembly, these are non-binding and display the division outside the western world on the issue, with much of the world’s population living in countries whose leaders voted for abstention. 

While new questions around the war are raised in the international community, with some new countries joining the coalition of the willing and others further pushing for new weapon deliveries (such as the Polish Leopard 2 tanks which arrived recently), the Ukrainian community stood and stands firm. A long speech, delivered in Ukrainian and Czech, listed the atrocities committed by Russia and its forces against civilians since the beginning of the invasion. The voice of the Ukrainian speaker cracked at times and the Czech interpreter spoke with only more passion and anger, saturating the microphone. This was followed by a moment of silence, with all present kneeling and many in tears. 

The speeches that followed, delivered by civil society representatives of charities and the Ukrainian community covered a wide spread of topics. Of note was a Czech petition to end all oil imports from Russia (highlighting that ending gas imports from Russia deprived the belligerent of billions of Czech Crowns in revenue) and expressions of gratitude to both the Czech political leadership and the Czech population. The election of retired NATO General Petr Pavel to Prague Castle seems to have confirmed a general pro-Ukrainian sentiment among the Czech population, which has provided donations to the Armed Forces of Ukraine through donating towards the purchase of a Main Battle Tank (amusingly named Thomas) and a Multiple Launch Rocket System and which continues to provide for refugees fleeing the war. Glory to Ukraine, but also glory to Czechia was chanted after these speeches.

Among the speeches, one stood out as a plea this time not towards the Czech government, the public, and the international community, but rather to Ukrainians themselves. A speaker pleaded with Ukrainians to be proud of who they are, their culture, but most of all to speak their language. With the war often being portrayed as a contemporary colonial conquest aimed at restarting centuries of Russian domination over Ukraine, many Ukrainians who otherwise spoke Russian daily have made the switch to speaking Ukrainian. To save Ukraine is to also save oneself from thinking and expressing oneself in the colonial tongue, a plea that was met with applause even among those I had overheard speaking Russian or Surzhyk between themselves. 
               

Speaking with demonstrators, most of whom were refugees, including students of the Faculty of Social Sciences, a few common themes stood out. The desire not to be forgotten as the news cycle moves onto other topics in many countries often returned. Many shared the deep appreciation of being alive and safe and pride for their nation’s efforts in face of absolute uncertainty in addition to the gratitude for the support they have received.

In face of a war against a “dark side” that many feel powerless against, a young woman and her brother sought to remind us of the myriad of ways foreigners can support, whether through donations, volunteering, petitioning representatives, or simply reaching out to Ukrainians close to us. Not only Ukrainians cannot forget the war, but a Czech also who I interviewed pointed out how his life was changed forever when he first volunteered at the Central Station and saw those arriving and has since hosted refugees in his home. “I have not been the same. I have seen the plethora (sic) of people looking out of the train, old people, young teenagers, people who are obviously worldly and well-adapted, but also people who seem like they have been out of their oblast for the first time.” he said “The pain that Ukraine feels flows through me, as I feel it should flow through every European”. The demonstration was perhaps above all a testimony for the good of humanity against a future of the “dark side” winning, a struggle that Ukrainians carry the burden of fighting.