"We are not neutral" is the motto of a peaceful rally held in Sofia today in support of Ukraine. The event takes place on Alexander Nevsky Square and organizers hope it will be as crowded as the rally on March 24, which attracted more than 15,000 people who showed support for the victims of war. The event in March was compared to the major protests and rallies held in the beginning of the democratic changes in Bulgaria.

Reason for the event became the mass killings of innocent civilians, which came to light after the withdrawal of the Russian military from the Ukrainian city of Bucha. "We must help Ukraine protect its children from this unparalleled aggression, including with military-defense assistance," organizers said. Danita Zarichinova is one of them. She says she is shocked by what is currently happening.

"As citizens, we associate a position of neutrality and non-interference with complicity with the aggressor. Bulgaria needs to take a firmer stance on the issue. All EU countries, with the exception of Hungary, have already provided military and technical assistance and are involved in other ways in the war. What I feel as a citizen of Europe is that Ukrainians are currently fighting not only for their independence, not only against the aggressor who invaded their sovereign territory, but for the whole of Europe, including Bulgaria. If what is happening in Ukraine did not stop now, we might be next in the line and asking for help that wouldn’t come," Danita says.

In recent days, peace marches in support of Ukraine have taken place in other Bulgarian cities, as well. At the same time, however, we are witnessing a series of initiatives against the provision of military-technical assistance on the grounds that in this way the country would get involved in the military conflict.

"Many people in our country believed in the Russian propaganda, which is gaining incredible proportions," Danita says, adding:

"There are people, especially from the older generation, who have no idea how to distinguish fake news from real ones. It is easy to be deceived. In addition, the topic of peace is being distorted in order to attract more supporters, with neutrality being presented as the only option for peace. But right now, as a pacifist, I can't agree with that.”

Tonight, the rally is expected to reach the Russian Cultural Information Center in Sofia and end in front of the BNT building, urging the media to stop calling justification of killings and war crimes "a point of view." "I see that there is energy in people. Everyone is shocked by what has been happening in Ukraine in recent days and want to show it in the streets," Danita Zarichinova says in conclusion.

English: Alexander Markov