The council’s spokesman Andrew Mencinsky said the rally had been organised to support Ukraine and send a message that it needs urgent help.
“We are asking the Australian government to support Ukraine against Putin’s illegal and brutal invasion of our country,” he said.
A man draped in the Russian flag attempts to burn a passport during the Stop War in Ukraine rally.Credit:Steven Siewert
Mr Mencinsky said the council wanted the Australian government to provide more military,financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and take further measures against Russia,including stopping the import and export of goods and services from Russia,establishing a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine and expelling Russia from the SWIFT financial system.
The crowd later marched along Elizabeth Street to Circular Quay led by a group carrying a large Ukrainian flag.
Across town,the Russian consulate general in Woollahra attracted a strong police presence as a small group of pro-Russia supporters were confronted by up to 40 pro-Ukrainian demonstrators.
The crowd of mainly men argued with each other in a number of languages including Russian,with police intervening when discussions became heated,but the demonstration appeared to be peaceful.
Police had to get involved as pro-Ukraine and pro-Russia demonstrators argued outside the Russian consulate in Woollahra on Saturday.Credit:Rhett Wyman
Ingrid Studholme,whose father is Latvian,said she and her daughter had joined the march as an expression of solidarity.
“Today I stood beside a woman who called her Mum in Ukraine,heard bombs in the background and has now lost contact,” she said.
Stephen Duma,a director of the Ukrainian Council of NSW,said he felt devastated by Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Marching down Elizabeth Street with a Ukrainian flag draped over his shoulders,Mr Duma said family members had been woken up last Thursday by the sound of bombs.
Loading
“Now we’re seeing that people are dying,” he said. “Things are getting blown up left,right and centre. What’s next? It’s devastating to see innocent people are being involved in this.”
Despite angry words directed at Russia’s authoritarian leader,Mr Duma said Ukrainians had no quarrel with the Russian people.
“This is really against Putin and his comrades in Moscow,” he said. “It’s the government of Russia that is provoking this.”
Mr Duma said Putin has declared war not just on Ukraine but on Europe and the whole world,comparing the conflict to World War II.
Loading
“Let’s look back to the late ’30s and ’40s,” he said. “It’s a very similar story. We don’t want this to become much bigger than it already is. Otherwise,Australia will become more involved.”
Mr Duma said Australia should cut all ties with Russia and remove the country’s ambassador and diplomats. “They provoked this war ... we don’t need any ties with them.”
The Ukrainian Council of NSW also urged people to support theUkraine Crisis Appeal and write to federal politicians to express their concern about the war in Ukraine and its impact on “innocent citizens”.
A template letter states Australia should provide lethal military aid to Ukraine,continue to apply “crippling” sanctions,isolate Russia diplomatically and provide financial and humanitarian aid.