On 29 August in Drohobych, on the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine who died fighting for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, commemorative events were held and a new memorial in honour of the fallen soldiers was consecrated. The ceremony took place with the participation of the clergy, representatives of the city authorities, the military and the families of the fallen.
The events began with a joint prayer in the Church of St George. Joining the prayer for the repose of the souls of the fallen Defenders of Ukraine were the Mayor of Drohobych Taras Kuchma, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism Development Volodymyr Khanas, Head of the Department of Social, Psychological and Legal Support for Defenders and Their Family Members Mar’yana Bechkalo, as well as the relatives and loved ones of the soldiers.
After the service, the participants of the procession proceeded to military unit A1108, where the memorial has been installed and consecrated. For the joint prayer at the monument, His Grace Bishop Yaroslav Pryriz and priests were invited. The event began with the performance of the State Anthem of Ukraine and a minute of silence, after which the Defenders who gave their lives for Ukraine were remembered by name.
The commander of military unit A1108, Colonel Oleksandr Popov, addressed those present, emphasising the importance of preserving the memory of every fallen soldier and the responsibility of the living in the face of their feat.
The new memorial will henceforth be a place where relatives, comrades-in-arms and all who wish can come to pay tribute to the fallen. It is intended to serve as a reminder of the high price of war and of the courage of those who stood up to defend the state.
Particularly moving was the speech by the wife of the fallen Defender Nazarii Bakai, Olha Bakai. She shared the personal pain of her loss, spoke about her husband’s decision to defend Ukraine and about how, for the families of the fallen, this memorial is a symbol of living memory, not just stone or metal.
In his address, the Mayor of Drohobych, Taras Kuchma, stressed that places of remembrance should remind us not only of the sacrifice of the Heroes, but also of the community’s duty to care for the families of the fallen, to support children who have lost their parents, and to build up the state for which the soldiers gave their lives.
The organisers underlined that honouring the fallen Defenders is not only about memorials or solemn words, but about each person’s daily responsibility: to safeguard Ukraine, support its army and help the families of the Heroes.
At the end of the event, a commemorative St George coin was presented – St George being the spiritual patron of the 15th Separate Reconnaissance Brigade “Chornyi Lis”. Participants in the ceremony once again stressed that the names of the fallen will forever remain in the ranks of the Ukrainian army and in the memory of the community.