In Lviv, commemorations of Defenders of Ukraine Day began with a nationwide minute of silence, a joint prayer and the laying of flowers and votive candles at the fields of honour at Lychakiv Cemetery.
The event was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Lviv Regional Council Yaroslav Hasiak, deputies of the regional and local councils, the regional and city leadership, representatives of the military and security forces, clergy, families of fallen defenders, families of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and members of the public. Among the deputies of the Lviv Regional Council who joined the commemoration were Oreslava Khomyk, Nataliia Haletska, Yurii Doshkich, Liubomyr Zubach, Yurii Buchko, Rostyslav Dobosh, Kateryna Kenio, Roksolana Voronovska and Yurii Radelytskyi.
“We begin Defenders of Ukraine Day here – at the graves of our Heroes. We must remember those who gave the most precious thing for Ukraine – their lives. Today we pray for the fallen, we thank the living and we ask God for one thing for Ukraine – Victory and peace,” said Yaroslav Hasiak.
At the field of honour No. 76, participants in the prayer honoured the soldiers who fought for Ukraine in the 20th century, as well as the defenders who have fallen since 2014. Sixty-seven fallen participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and 37 soldiers who gave their lives after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion are buried here.
At field No. 67, those present prayed and bowed their heads in memory of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes – Volodymyr Boikiv, Yurii Verbytskyi, Andrii Dygdalovych, Serhii Kulchytskyi, Andrii Sokolenko and Bohdan Ilkiv – as well as Ukrainian soldiers. The memory of the fallen was honoured by a performance of “Plyve kacha…” accompanied by the Lviv National Academic Men’s Choral Cappella “Dudaryk”.
At field No. 86a, participants in the event laid flowers at the memorial to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and at the graves of Ukrainian soldiers. More than 1,260 soldiers who died in the Russian-Ukrainian war since 2022 are laid to rest here.
The commemoration concluded at field No. 87, where an ecumenical requiem service was held for the fallen defenders. More than 260 Ukrainian soldiers are buried in this section.
“Today we pray for our defenders and all the Heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom, asking eternal rest for them, and strength to endure for the living,” said Auxiliary Bishop of the Lviv Archeparchy of the UGCC, Bishop Volodymyr Hruza.