Lviv is 767 years old. On this occasion, a solemn ceremony of raising the city’s flag was held on Rynok Square: the flag was raised by a military man who received a bionic hand prosthesis the day before at the NEZLAMNA center. The flags of the Ukrainian military and defense structures were also solemnly brought out – to thank all defenders for fighting for the freedom of our country.
First, the city trumpeter performed the “Melody of the City”, and then military serviceman Roman Vasylyuk raised the flag of Lviv. He has a prosthetic arm and leg. The defenseman received his bionic hand prosthesis yesterday, May 5, at the NEZLAMNI center. The leg prosthesis is currently temporary. Roman hails from Zhytomyr Oblast and was wounded in December during artillery shelling near Bakhmut.
Therefore, as a sign of respect and gratitude to the military, the flags of 12 military and defense structures of Ukraine flew in front of the walls of the Lviv City Council. These are, in particular, the State Flag of Ukraine, the flag of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the flag of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, the flag of the Ground Forces, the flag of the National Guard of Ukraine, the flag of the Air Force, the flag of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the flag of the Naval Forces, the flag of the National Police of Ukraine , the flag of the Airborne Assault Forces, the flag of the Security Service of Ukraine, the flag of the Special Operations Forces.
“These signs are the lives of the saints. Behind each of them lies a great sacrifice and great love. Therefore, standing here today, we ask our God to protect our land, to bless Ukraine, to not let us forget this sacrifice that our defenders make every day – so that we can be here today, under this sunny sky,” said Father Pavlo Drozdyak, Chaplain of the Lviv City Council.
“Today, in order to protect our will, the military, our defenders, go to the front. You, like St. Yuri, take the stirrup and beat this evil. Kudos to you for what you do for all of us. We all believe and work for Victory. Because we are free people who live in a free city and build a free country. Glory to each of you, glory to the city of Lviv, glory to Ukraine!” – said Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy.
The cadets of the National Academy of Ground Forces named after Hetman Pyotr Sagaidachny performed the honorable mission of presenting the flags. After that, everyone together sang the State Anthem of Ukraine.
Honorary citizen of the city of Lviv, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Ihor Yukhnovskyi also addressed a congratulatory speech. “A lot depends on you. Please work every day, work day and night, make new discoveries and glorify Ukraine with them,” he said.
The celebrations ended with the ceremony of passing the honor guard of the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny.
Military personnel and their families, representatives of the clergy, honorary citizens of Lviv, representatives of the city and regional authorities, residents and guests of the city took part in the celebrations.
By the way, the figures of lions guarding the City Hall were symbolically dressed in military uniforms. At the same time, today and tomorrow Lviv trams and trolleybuses will run decorated with national flags and flags with the coat of arms of the city of Lviv.
Read more about the City Day events here.