The Suffolk Conservative Group has condemned the decision by the new Reform UK administration at Suffolk County Council to remove the Ukrainian flag previously displayed at Endeavour House, describing the move as sending the wrong message at a time when Ukraine continues to suffer devastating losses due to Russia’s illegal invasion.
The decision also comes amid continued warnings from UK security agencies about growing Russian cyber threats targeting local authorities and public infrastructure in the country. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has repeatedly warned that Russian-aligned groups are actively targeting UK councils because of Britain’s support for Ukraine.
The Leader of the Suffolk Conservative Group, Cllr Richard Rout, said:
“It’s hugely disappointing and divisive that one of Reform UK’s first acts controlling the County Council is to take down the Ukrainian flag, which has flown here since Russia’s illegal invasion. It would have been quite possible to install an additional flagpole to fly the St George’s Cross, had they wished to do so.
“Reform’s leader in Suffolk famously said, ‘Russia is not my enemy’ - it hasn’t taken long for him to prove this. Clearly, he doesn’t stand with Ukraine and is no friend of the displaced Ukrainian families that now call Suffolk home.
"Russian groups continue to target the UK and our interests, including through direct attacks on UK council websites, and we now have a council leader who seemingly wants to turn a blind eye to it.
“In Essex, Reform UK at least had the courtesy to try to find a new home for the Ukrainian flag and attempted to liaise with the Ukrainian community. In Suffolk, no such steps have been taken, and we’re simply told the flag is being stored by the council’s facilities management team.”
During the previous Conservative administration, Suffolk County Council unanimously approved a motion condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and supported efforts to assist refugees fleeing the conflict. Since then, the Homes for Ukraine scheme has supported more than 1,700 refugees who came to Suffolk fleeing the war.
Since February 2022, the United Nations has verified the deaths of more than 15,850 civilians in Ukraine, with over 44,000 injured. In April 2026 alone, 238 civilians were killed, the highest monthly figure recorded since July 2025.
