About 10 cars with Russian and Irish flags crashed into a motorcade on the M50 motorway last Sunday afternoon in a clear sign of support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The hood of the lead vehicle, a green Jeep, bore the Z symbol used by Russian forces in Ukraine. The rally is believed to have been organized through a private Facebook group for Russians living in Ireland. Rallies in favor of Russia took place in Germany on the same day, including the motorcade in Hanover. “It is absolutely disgusting that these Russians living in Ireland show their complete disrespect. [their] “The country of residence and the Irish people are resisting the Russian war in Ukraine,” the Ukrainian embassy in Dublin said in a tweet that included videos of the rally. The embassy said Z symbolized murder and atrocities and should be banned. The ride came three days after Irish lawmakers applauded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who thanked Ireland for its support for Ukraine on a video camera in both chambers of parliament. It is absolutely disgusting that these Russians living in Russia show their complete disrespect for the country of residence and the Irish people who are resisting the Russian war in Ukraine. “The” Z “, the symbol of murder and horror, must be banned by law in every democracy pic.twitter.com/ttGwbYReNF – Embassy of the United Kingdom in Ireland (@UKRinIRL) April 10, 2022 The Irish government has called for tougher sanctions on Russia and backed Ukraine’s aspirations to join the EU. Ireland is hosting more than 20,000 Ukrainian refugees, many of them living in Irish families. The riders reportedly started at the Maldron Hotel near Dublin Airport and boarded the M50, Ireland’s busiest motorway, with Russian, Soviet and Irish flags. Many people on social media condemned the pro-Moscow demonstration as an insult to the victims of the Russian invasion and an insult to Ireland’s solidarity with Ukraine. Others expressed their disapproval, but defended the right of the people to support Russia.
