NOVEMBER 18, 2024 — As the war in Ukraine marks its 1,000th day, Independence Square in Kyiv stands as a testament to the loss and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people, euronews report.
A growing sea of blue and yellow flags, some bearing the names and dates of fallen soldiers, covers the square. This grassroots memorial, which began in May of the war’s first year, has become a powerful symbol of grief, resilience, and remembrance, created entirely by the hands of ordinary citizens.
The first flags appeared shortly after Russian forces withdrew from the Kyiv region, when the capital was no longer under immediate threat. Archival images show a modest beginning—rows of flags neatly arranged on the lawn. Over time, as the war dragged on and casualties mounted, the memorial expanded. The grass gave way to well-worn paths resembling those in a cemetery, winding through thousands of fluttering flags planted by families and friends of the deceased.
Svitlana Kirichenko, who travelled from Cherkasy to replace a weathered flag for her son, shared her pain: “I put it here so that someone might pass by and see that this person once lived and gave their life for us.”
For her, the flag is a reminder of her son’s sacrifice so that Ukraine might remain free from foreign domination.
Similarly, Svitlana Kanevska, mourning her boyfriend, visits the site frequently. “You feel so much pain that you don’t know where to go or what to do,” she explained, describing the solace she finds in tending to his flag and photograph, according to CNBC.
Though unofficial and without government oversight, this memorial stands as a collective act of remembrance. Funeral ceremonies often take place nearby, with moments of silence observed daily.
Andrii Pedychenko, replacing a friend’s flag, said of the memorial: “Each flag is a tragedy. It reminds us that this is just a small piece, because there wouldn’t be enough space here for everyone.”
Image: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0