Cambridge students, residents and tourists enjoying the warm weather on King’s Parade on Friday (17/06) were surprised to see a banner emblazoned with a Ukrainian flag hanging between two spires above King’s College Chapel.

The text on the banner reads ‘Slava Ukraini!’ (Glory to Ukraine), a common expression of support for Ukraine and its people in light of the ongoing war in their country.

The identity of the person or people responsible for putting up the banner remains unknown.

Its presence has not only been welcomed by Cambridge students and residents; a photo of it was even shared on the story of Ukraine’s official Instagram account (ukraine.ua). 

A spokesperson for King’s College has claimed that the King’s community is “fully supportive” of the “sentiment” expressed by the banner and were “appalled” by Russia’s actions in Ukraine. However, they expressed concerns regarding the risks posed by the banner “to the physical fabric of the historic building” and “to those required to remove [the banner].”

The spokesperson also mentioned the assistance King’s has been providing to students and academics affected by the war in Ukraine and the fact that the College has recently appointed the first of three displaced scholars to postdoctoral positions within the College.

For the time being, the banner remains in place on King’s Chapel.