The black-and-white flag was raised for the first time in front of the Lviv City Council by Andriy Goza, the son of a missing serviceman. This flag has become a symbol of support for prisoners and missing persons.
“This flag has two colors: black and white. Black represents everything that many of us have inside: pain, suffering, regret, a heart that is torn apart and nobody sees it. But there is the white color – hope and faith. As long as we have hope, as long as we believe, our loved ones are with us,” said Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi.
Families of defenders and public organizations participated in the event. Mykola Smolyakov urged people to remember every defender and believe in their return home. “I thank all the defenders and hope that all the prisoners and missing persons will return home,” he noted.
The initiative to establish the Flag of Hope was introduced by Hero of Ukraine Serhiy ‘Volyna’. This gesture is not only a sign of solidarity but also a reminder of the resilience of the Ukrainian people.