BAFTAs are being held in London tonight (March 13), and host Rebel Wilson began the night by giving the middle finger to Russian President Vladimir Putin.Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24 and the entertainment community has been sharing their support for the country and its people.To open tonight’s BAFTAs, the organisation’s chairman Krishnendu Majumdar read out a speech which said (via the Hollywood Reporter): “Together with our colleagues at the Ukrainian Film Academy, we stand in solidarity and hope for a return to peace.“We’re hugely grateful to the journalists covering Ukraine, many of whom are BAFTA members. Our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine as well as those affected by other conflicts around the world.”After Wilson discussed how Emilia Jones’ musical performance on the show would be aided by a pair of sign language interpreters, she then said: “And in all sign languages, this is the gesture for Putin,” before raising her middle finger, which was blurred out by the BBC.Leading the nominees for the 2022 BAFTAs is Denis Villeneuve’s Dune with a huge 11 nominations, while Licorice Pizza and No Time To Die are also up for multiple gongs.Dame Shirley Bassey opened the BAFTA Film Awards 2022 ceremony with a performance of iconic James Bond song ‘Diamonds Are Forever’.Before the ceremony, Rebel Wilson made a playful jibe at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.The Australian actor, known for roles in Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect, appeared on ITV’s This Morning in an interview with Alison Hammond.During the interview, Hammond asked Wilson how she was feeling ahead of the BAFTAs.
Fear and anger in Ukrainian community as Vladimir Putin orders troops across the border
22.02.2022 - 15:13 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A leader in Greater Manchester's Ukrainian community says that last night's news from Russia has left him 'distraught'.
Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a decree to recognise the independence of rebel-held regions Luhansk and Donetsk and ordered military troops across the eastern Ukrainian border.
This morning (February 22) Boris Johnson chaired an emergency COBRA to discuss the latest developments and new sanctions on Russia.
READ MORE:Boris Johnson to issue Ukraine statement today as he warns Putin is bent on 'full scale invasion'
The chair of Bolton's Ukrainian Cultural Centre said that Mr Putin had 'copied Hitler's playbook'.
Yaroslaw Tymchyshyn told the Manchester Evening News: " I'm just distraught about the whole thing. It just smells of Munich 1939, in that he says one thing and then does something else.
"Yesterday, the United Nations Russia representative said 'we're not going to do anything' - look what happened.
"You can't trust him one bit and I just feel as if we've been let down.
"He's done it before in Georgia and frankly it's a playbook that he's got. I wouldn't mind but it's a copy of Hitler's playbook."
Yaroslaw's parents came to the UK as refugees following the Second World War and he still has family living on the Western side of the country.
The 68-year-old claimed that Mr Putin has "re-written history" in regards to Donetsk and Luhansk.
He added: "What really galls me is the re-writing of history.
"When he turns around and says 'these are Russia's ancient lands', it's an understatement to call it a fabrication of history.
"In the past he's said that Ukraine doesn't exist as a country. It's worse than disgusting, it's an insult to my father's generation and all the Ukrainians
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Vladimir Putin tends to keep his personal life away from the spotlight which means not much is known about him, aside from his political life.The 69 year old President of Russia was married to former flight attendant Lyudmila between 1983 and 2014, but they went their separate ways due to "barely seeing each other." She said: "Vladimir is completely submerged in his work. Our children have grown up, each of them is living her own life… And I truly don’t like publicity." The couple announced they were ending their marriage in June 2013, and the divorce was then finalised by the Kremlin in April 2014. Get exclusive celebrity stories and fabulous photoshoots straight to your inbox with OK!'s daily newsletter.