TOWN councillors in Trowbridge will tonight be urged to condemn in the strongest possible terms the “unjustified and unprovoked” invasion by Russia which has led to war in Ukraine.

Cllr Stephen Cooper, the town’s member for Trowbridge Park Ward, drafted an emergency motion over the weekend condemning” in the strongest possible terms” the unprovoked Russian invasion of its neighbouring sovereign state Ukraine.

The motion states: "This council wholeheartedly and unequivocally condemns the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine and publicly expresses its enduring solidarity with, and support for, the people and legitimate government of Ukraine."

Cllr Cooper said: “For the first time in many decades, we have witnessed the eruption of deliberate and premeditated 'nation on nation' hostilities in a European theatre.

"Russia's illegal, unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is not just an act of a war-mongering dictator; it is also a humanitarian tragedy for the people of Ukraine.

"A people who, if this invasion of their homeland were allowed to succeed, would face the horrors of occupation and subjugation at the hands of a man unrestrained by the norms of decency, humanity and legality.

"As the council of a small county town in the south-west of England, any motion we pass will inevitably be symbolic.

"However it is important that we loudly put on record our disgust and contempt for the actions of a man who has no respect for international law, truth, freedom, or the peoples of Eastern Europe." 

Cllr Antonio Piazza has ordered a Ukrainian flag which he hopes will be flown above The Civic Centre and there are plans for a protest against the Russian invasion in Trowbridge on Saturday.

Cllr Piazza said: "I want to submit an amendment, as stated below, for it to be a bit more sensitive.

"The language should not downplay what is happening but there are Russian residents living in Trowbridge and I bet they are in feeling truly awful at the moment. It is not their fault and that should be clarified in the wording.

"It is important to counter any extremism or targeted hatred between both Ukrainians and Russians living in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and the UK.

"We must remember the fault lies with the few at the Kremlin and not the many ordinary-hardworking Russian residents and their families."