Brisbane turns lights out in solidarity with Ukraine

Brisbane is showing its solidarity with the people of Ukraine by turning lights out at key locations on Thursday night.

Brisbane has stood in unity with the people of Ukraine by turning off the lights at key landmarks on Thursday night.

As Russia launched a full-scale invasion of the former Soviet state, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the lights of Brisbane’s assets would be turned off “in solidarity with those being impacted by the disturbing events unfolding in the Ukraine”.

“The situation unfolding in the Ukraine is extremely disturbing for all of us and will be terrifying for those Brisbane residents who have loved ones in that part of the world,” Cr Schrinner said.

“This is a dark day for world peace. Switching off the lights on the Story Bridge, City Hall and other well-known Brisbane landmarks is our way of acknowledging what is occurring in the Ukraine.”

Today is a dark day for Ukraine and world peace. Tonight we’re turning off the lights of our city’s assets in solidarity with those being impacted by the disturbing events unfolding in the Ukraine.
 
Let us all continue to strive for peace, love and a world free from violence. pic.twitter.com/tFyWh7UFeL

— Adrian Schrinner (@bne_lordmayor) February 24, 2022

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also issued a statement on Thursday evening.

“The aggression of Russian military forces upon the people of the Ukraine is of deep concern,” she said.

“There will be members of our Queensland community who are impacted and understandably worried for their loved ones.

“Our thoughts are with them.

“Now is the time for the world to unite in peace.”

The lights were turned off on several Brisbane landmarks, including the Story Bridge, on Thursday night. Picture: Richard Walker

Queensland’s Ukrainian community expressed horror and condemned the Kremlin’s invasion of their home nation.

Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc president Peter Bongiorni, in a statement, said the organisation was “alarmed and horrified” by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday (Australian time).

“It is hard to believe that anybody could desire war, let alone rewrite history or fabricate justification for bloodshed. We support the sovereignty and the people of Ukraine,” he said.

Mr Bongiorni said the UCQ was grateful for the federal government’s decision to move visa applications from Ukrainians to the top of the pile.

Ukrainian firefighters try to extinguish a fire after an air strike hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv, Kharkiv Oblast. Picture: Wolfgang Schwan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

He urged people in the community seeking to apply for visas for their loved ones to do so.

Australia-wide there are an estimated 38,000 people Ukrainian heritage including thousands in Queensland.

About 1400 Australian citizens remain in Ukraine, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison urging them to leave the country as soon as possible amid a full-scale Russian assault.

“I’ll call it what it is – the Russian government launched a brutal invasion, unprovoked, on Ukraine, and should be condemned for doing so – and Australia does,” he said.

“Together with the international community, we are banding together in strong terms to condemn these outrageous acts in the strongest possible terms.

“The footage that is emerging of missile strikes, air-raid sirens, and reports of hundreds of casualties dash yet unconfirmed – are, sadly, not surprising given the events we’ve been witnessing for some time now, and have been warning about.”

The UCQ have asked for the wider Australian community to join them in condemning the “needless violence, bloodshed and terror that Putin’s regime strives to create”.

The community will be holding a rally in King George Square at noon on March 6.

Queenslanders seeking to aid Ukraine can do so via the Ukraine Crisis Appeal.