Ukrainian Embassy slam 'disgusting' pro-war Russian car rally on M50 in Dublin

It is understood that the organised rally began near Dublin Airport with a fleet of vehicles travelling up the M50 yesterday afternoon.

Several of the cars displayed Russian and Irish flags and had the letter ‘Z’ written on windows, a pro-war symbol in favour of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The letter has been used on Russian tanks and military vehicles invading Ukraine in recent weeks.

Footage of the convoy was shared by the Ukrainian Embassy on Twitter, who said the parade was “absolutely disgusting” and disrespectful to those who “stand against Russia’s war in Ukraine.”

They wrote: “It’s absolutely disgusting that these Russians living in [Ireland] demonstrate their complete disrespect for country of residence and the Irish people who stand against Russia's war in Ukraine. [Russian] “Z”, the symbol of killings and atrocities, must be prohibited by law in every democratic state.”

The video appears to have originated in a private Facebook group for Russians living in Ireland with around 19,500 members.

Many social media users took to Twitter to express their outrage after the video of the car rally was shared online.

One person wrote: “My stomach is turning at the thought of pro-Russia rallies here in Ireland. What class of idiot who lives in our amazing country could possibly side with Putin? The mind boggles. I know some lovely Russian people here in Dublin and I know they would never support this behaviour.”

Another said: “They fly the tricolour in unison with the flag that conducts genocide in Ukraine. Get t’f**k.”

Someone else tagged Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and the official An Garda Síochána account and said: “This should be treated as hate speech and prosecuted accordingly.”

While a fourth chimed in: “Despicable. These fools don't deserve to live on Irish soil.”

And another added: “Absolutely disgusting to see our tricolour displayed with the 'Z' symbol. What a pathetic limp show of force by Putin’s Puppets. The Irish People have shown who they stand beside. Slava Ukraini!”

However, others defended the Russians’ rights to hold their rally, with one person writing: “Ireland’s still a free country repugnant as you may find this; people are free to wave whatever flags and letters they wish to.”

And another said: “Sorry mate, we still live in a free country here where you don’t get to tell people what national flags they can wave.”