Unity March in Athlone to mark two years since the start of war in Ukraine

To mark two years since the start of the war in Ukraine this Saturday, a Unity March event has been organised by the Ukrainian community in Athlone.

The march event begins at noon in Golden Island, in front of Burgess Park, before marching across the town to Athlone Castle, where attendees will form a chain on the bridge in front of castle, with Ukrainian and Irish colours to symbolise gratitude and unity.

The Ukrainian community in Athlone is calling on the public to stand with them on the day to show their opposition to war, violence and the destruction in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022.

The Athlone event will join 200 others around the world where crowds are gathering to show unity with the people of Ukraine.

The UN has estimated that civilian casualties since the war began are around 30,000, although it's thought by many sources that the true figure is far higher.

The scale of deaths in the army is totally unclear however, with estimates ranging from over 25,000 to as much as 70,000, according to Euronews.

Many of Ukraine's main towns and cities have been reduced to rubble during the conflict.