In Lviv, in the Na Valakh park, an event was held to mark the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine, both men and women, members of volunteer formations and civilians who were executed, tortured or died in Russian captivity. Relatives of prisoners of war and those killed, veterans and representatives of the authorities took part in the commemoration.
The event began with the unveiling of a memorial plaque on a park bench. This empty bench symbolises the place of those whose lives were cut short by Russian captivity. The plaque bears the words: “Here should have sat the one who dreamed of coming home…”.
At the unveiling, the head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, stressed that the bench is meant to remind people of every Ukrainian who did not survive captivity, and of those still held by the occupiers.
“It is a reminder of all the Ukrainians who did not survive captivity. And of all our people who are waiting to be freed. We remember them. We must bring each and every one of them home!” — Maksym Kozytskyi
After the unveiling, an initiative entitled “Memory Never Fades” took place. Its participants created floral arrangements as a mark of respect for those who died in captivity and as a gesture of support for the service personnel and civilians who are still imprisoned or listed as missing.
The commemorative date to honour all Ukrainians who have died in Russian captivity, including the defenders of Mariupol and those executed in Olenivka, was officially established by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 2025.