Ceremonies held locally and internationally to mark six months since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Today marks six months since Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians have died, and entire cities have been laid to waste. Today is also Ukraine’s Independence Day, and people are gathering at events around the world to mark 31 years since the country broke away from the Soviet Union.

The day was marked here in our region as well. In St. Catharines, people gathered at city hall this morning to raise the Ukrainian flag and reflect on the cost of the war.

The UN says more than 5,500 civilians have been confirmed dead but says the actual number is without a doubt much higher.

Ukraine’s military says it has lost 9,000 soldiers, and it’s estimated Russia has lost as many as 25,000.

So far more than 6.6 million Ukrainian refugees have fled the fighting in the east of the country Ukrainian officials say Russia has taken about 20 per cent of its territory, and say the destruction has cost more than $172 billion.

Today in Ukraine the terrible cost of this war was remembered as Ukrainians celebrated a very sombre Independence Day.