An art event entitled “Colours of Unity” was held in Lviv, during which a painting was created in honour of soldiers of Armenian origin who died for Ukraine’s independence, as well as those currently serving in the Defence Forces. The finished canvas will be taken to Yerevan, where it will be presented at the Third Pan-Armenian Summit.
The work was created in the courtyard by the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv — a place that embodies the centuries-long presence of the Armenian community in the city and the shared cultural heritage of Ukrainians and Armenians.
The sketch for the painting was created by Ukrainian artist, designer, member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and co-founder of the public organisation “Army of Communities of Ukraine” Andrii Yermolenko. Veterans, representatives of Armenian youth in Ukraine, the artist’s 8-year-old son Davyd, as well as Lviv’s Deputy Mayor for Veterans’ Affairs Andrii Zholob joined in painting the canvas.
At the centre of the painting is the figure of a warrior composed of two images: a modern Ukrainian defender of Armenian origin in military tactical gear and an ancient Armenian warrior in armour with a sword. In the background, the artist placed two shrines — the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv and the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia, the main spiritual centre of the Armenian people.
The composition combines the national colours of the two countries: red dominates the part with Etchmiadzin, while blue and yellow hues prevail in the fragment with the Armenian Cathedral in Lviv. In this way, the creators emphasise that Armenians who have lived in Ukraine for centuries are an integral part of Ukrainian society.
According to Andrii Yermolenko, the idea to create such a canvas emerged after an appeal from the Odesa Armenian organisation, which proposed preparing a work for presentation at the summit in Armenia. The artist noted that in the war against Russian aggression, the deaths of more than 10 Armenians have already been confirmed, although the exact number is still unknown, and many Armenians continue to fight within the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“In the struggle for Ukraine, the deaths of more than 10 Armenians have been confirmed, although we do not know the exact number. Many Armenians are also fighting today in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This painting is a tribute to all of them, because we must remember the people who give their lives for Ukraine,” said Andrii Yermolenko.
Lviv’s Deputy Mayor for Veterans’ Affairs, Andrii Zholob, stressed the importance of cooperation with the Armenian community and of building long-term ties between peoples who are jointly resisting aggression.
The head of the Armenian Youth Union of Lviv, Vladyslav Hazarian, underlined that the painting symbolises the long-standing friendship between the Ukrainian and Armenian peoples and their shared struggle for freedom.
The canvas will be taken to Yerevan, where it will be officially presented during the Third Pan-Armenian Summit, to be held from 5 to 8 November 2026. More than 800 delegates from various countries are expected to take part, among them representatives of the Armenian community of Ukraine.
The “Colours of Unity” event was organised by the public organisation “Army of Communities of Ukraine”, the Odesa Regional Armenian Community and the Ukrainian Youth Association.