Ukrainian denies being asked about flag removal

The president of a Ukrainian society has denied ever being consulted about the removal of his country's flag from Essex County Council's headquarters, despite Reform UK saying he was.

Vladyslav Shuliar, from the group based at the University of Essex, said "nobody reached out to me personally" ahead of the flag being taken down.

That was despite the council's incoming deputy leader, Russell Quirk, insisting the group's president "wholeheartedly" backed the decision.

The flag had flown outside the building in Chelmsford since Ukraine was invaded by Russia in 2022, but was replaced by a second Union flag on Friday.

Reform took control of the local authority in May's local elections and has pledged to only fly Union, national, county or armed forces flags outside its buildings.

Quirk was live on BBC Essex on Monday when he pointed out that the group's president had been consulted.

He said the Ukrainian "agrees wholeheartedly" that County Hall "should be political on a local level, but not on a geopolitical level".

Radio presenter Ben Fryer challenged him on this, asking: "If we ask to speak to the Ukrainian group at the University of Essex, they will say to us they agree with what you've done, will they?"

Quirk responded: "The president of the Ukrainian society at the University of Essex has sent an email by response to the leader of this council, Peter Harris, to confirm his solidarity and his agreement with our decision."

The president agreed it was "a matter of common sense", Quirk added.

However, when the BBC spoke to Shuliar, he said nobody had contacted him, nor did he have any record of an email exchange with Harris.

In a separate written statement, Shuliar said: "We understand and respect the council's decision to fly the Union flag, and we appreciate the statement that support for Ukraine will continue.

"We also hope that the Ukrainian flag will be given a respectful new home, as a reminder that Ukraine and Ukrainians have not been forgotten."

He said the university's society "will always be immensely grateful" to the people of the UK for their support.

The former Conservative MP for Braintree, Brooks Newmark, who has been in Ukraine working for his own aid charity, said the move by Reform was "a little strange".

"The first move they make is to take down the flag of the people who are fighting and dying on the eastern flank of Europe," said Newmark.

"You can actually walk and chew gum at the same time... you can be patriotic, which I am, and you can be supportive of Ukraine, which I also am."

Essex County Council has been responsible for issuing payments to households and refugees as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Vlada Zabielina, who fled her home in Mariupol and now lives in Southend-on-Sea, told BBC Essex: "[The removal of the flag] makes people wonder if the support is stopping, if the support is switching sides.

"Is it that the support is no longer as strong as it was before? Because people in Ukraine are still suffering."

A council spokesman had said there would be discussions with the county's Ukrainian community before finding the flag a new home.

Reform has also instructed Thurrock Council officers to replace the Ukrainian flag flying above their offices in Grays.

The party also won a huge majority there at the 7 May elections.

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