Welcome to the Irish Left With Ukraine (ILWU) Newsletter.

To help best organise, we have decided to launch this occasional newsletter.  It will contain news, updates, advice and information on what is going on in Ukraine and how we can promote solidarity. The Irish Left With Ukraine group was established involving activists from different traditions of the left in Ireland, but united in support of Ukraine’s right to resist invasion.

The ILWU will participate in protests against the one-day visit of USA President Donald Trump to Ireland in Saturday September 12 2026.

We will bring our banner

Ukraine, Palestine, Occupation Is A Crime

If you would like to join us, meet at the MANDATE Headquarters, (opposite the Gate Theatre), Cavendish Row/Parnell Square Dublin 1 at 12.45pm.

Newsletter 6

Russian Embassy Protest
ICTU Global Solidarity Summer School
Ukraine Solidarity Convoy

Russian Embassy Protest
Did you know that since 22nd February 2022, there has been a daily protest outside the Russian embassy on Orwell Road, Dublin 4? 
The numbers have been small but they have been consistent. 
On Friday 25th September, we will bring the Irish Left With Ukraine banner to the protest for an hour between 4-5pm.  Join Us/ Bigí Linn.
Friday 25th September 2:30- 4pm Embassy of Russia, Orwell Road, Dublin 6

ICTU Global Solidarity Summer School- Solidarity With Ukraine

The Irish Left With Ukraine (ILWU) had the opportunity to host a session at the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Global Solidarity Summer School on Thursday 20^th August on the need for solidarity with Ukraine.  Gregor Kerr, Chris Ford and Kateryna Maliuto Osalova spoke.

Chris Ford, secretary and one of the founders of the British-based Ukraine Solidarity Campaign (USC), which works to mobilise left-wing and trade union movements in Britain in support of Ukraine.

Chris and others established the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign in 2014. “We did so,” he said, “because we knew the truth on the ground through our links with the Ukrainian trade unions.  What we said was the truth then, and some said we were lying, has been long proven to be the truth…There was no civil war in Ukraine. There was no coup. There was an external military intervention from the beginning, and that continued and is escalated with a full-scale invasion in February 2022.”
The USC now has seven trade unions affiliated.  He went on to state that the USC undertake two aspects of work – direct aid and political campaigning. “We receive letters and appeals on the ground from national unions as to what is needed.  We particularly have supplied a lot of assistance to mine rescue workers in Donbas. We’ve supported teachers on the front line.  We’ve supported assistance for air raid shelters where classrooms or classes are held”.

Damage and impact of war

Ukraine is not just the frontline.  Air raids and war crimes are a daily reality, yet people still try to get on with everyday life.  Kateryna shared a presentation to show figures and to tell us about how they are responding to the situation as a trade union in Ukraine.

Those figures were stark – over 13,000 missiles, 88,000 communicators drones, 120,000 piloted aerial bombs launched against Ukraine over the past 4 and a half years.  In relation to educational losses, she referred to 4650 educational institutions damaged by bombing, with more than 400 of them completely destroyed.
“The air in Kyiv is horrible, frankly speaking, because of their constant attacks, attacks on storages, and after every attack the warehouses smoulder for two or three weeks. We cannot open the window because the air is horrible. It even hurts the throat when we breathe. In February, there was only electricity for four to five hours a day”.

Solidarity in action

Kateryna then spoke about the solidarity that had been received. “From the very beginning of the war, we received a lot of support from organisations of other countries. Education International (International Teachers Union) created a Solidarity Fund, and a lot of organisations all around the world contributed money to this fund, and we had the opportunity to provide financial assistance to those members whose houses were damaged, or whose members of their families were killed or injured”.

“Thanks to international support, we have been able to buy generators for our regional organisations and head office to keep working.  Through support from Italian colleagues, from the British National Education Union, the American Federation of Teachers, Polish teacher unions, Danish teacher unions, the German Education Union and the Irish National Teachers Organisation who recently  provided a solidarity grant for a pre-school in Pisoschyn in Kharkiv where they have set up a pre-school in an underground shelter – funds that will go towards IT equipment, laptops, projector to help with teaching and a refrigerator for food storage”.

Call for solidarity

We are grateful to the ICTU Global Solidarity Committee for facilitating this presentation at their Summer School.    There is a great opportunity for Irish unions to develop solidarity initiatives to show support for their colleagues in Ukraine; postal workers, emergency workers, education workers, railway workers.  Russia is targeting not only military infrastructure but civilian infrastructure as well.  Continued support and solidarity is needed.
International Trade Union and Social Movement Solidarity Convoy to Ukraine

We are calling for support for the International Convoy to Ukraine departing Brussels 22nd November and returning from 1st December.  The convoy is made up of scores of volunteers driving three routes across Europe to deliver aid and solidarity with likeminded activists in Ukraine. The convoy has the backing of numerous trade unions, parliamentarians and activists across Europe.  Irish Left With Ukraine calls for support from Ireland.
Find out more
Convoy EN – 026 International Trade Union and Social Movement Solidarity Convoy to Ukraine

Call to Support ConvoyJoin our zoom meeting on at 6pm on the 23rd September to discuss how we in Ireland can support the Convoy
Send us your details and we can forward your name as a signatory or check out the website yourself. Email irishleftwithukraine@gmail.com for more information/ questions or feedback about this newsletter