Today, on 23 August, the National Flag of Ukraine was solemnly raised on the territory of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy and a time capsule for future generations was laid, which will be opened on the 50th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence.
The celebrations began with a nationwide minute of silence for those who fell in combat missions to protect Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for civilians who died as a result of the Russian Federation’s armed aggression against Ukraine.
The right to raise the blue and yellow flag on the highest flagpole in the region was granted to athletes from Lviv region who will take part in the Games of the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
The ceremony was attended by Acting Head of the Lviv Regional Council Yuriy Kholod, Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration Maksym Kozytskyi, members of the regional council, military personnel, war veterans and the public.
“The Ukrainian flag is flying today over Lviv region, the whole of Ukraine, and Kursk region. The greatest gratitude for this goes to our Defenders, who are winning back territories every day and flying the Ukrainian flag there. This means that Ukraine is a strong, great and independent country.
Never since independence have we had such a struggle as we have today. It is only thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine that we are able to celebrate Flag Day with pride.
It is important that our children know and remember the modern heroes who are fighting for Ukraine,” said Yuriy Kholod.
“The National Flag of Ukraine is recognisable all over the world – it embodies truth, courage and the relentless struggle for freedom.
It accompanies our defenders in every battle, giving them strength and faith in victory. Under this flag, they liberate Ukrainian lands. The flag is a symbol of our unity and invincibility.
I am grateful to our defenders who are fighting for freedom for each and every one of us under the blue and yellow flag on the frontline. We remember all those who gave their lives for the future of our country.
We will never recognise other people’s colours on our land. I believe that the time will soon come when our symbol will once again fly over all the temporarily occupied territories,” said Maksym Kozytskyi.
As part of the event, representatives of the Armed Forces brigades from Lviv region presented the battle banners:
- 80th separate airborne assault brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine;
- 24th separate mechanised brigade named after King Danylo;
- 45th separate artillery brigade;
- 63rd separate mechanised brigade;
- 12th separate army aviation brigade named after Viktor Pavlenko;
- 16th separate army aviation brigade “Brody”;
- 1st Galician-Volyn radio engineering brigade;
- 15th separate artillery reconnaissance brigade “Black Forest”;
- 184th Training Centre of the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Army Academy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The event concluded with a time capsule laying ceremony on the occasion of the 33rd anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence. It contained a blue and yellow flag signed by the regional leadership, the military, Olympians, community representatives and everyone else, a photo and an address to future generations signed by Yuriy Kholod, Maksym Kozytskyi and Andriy Moskalenko.
According to Yuriy Kholod, in his address to future generations, he wrote: “I am grateful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for a free Ukraine.”
The honorary right to lay the time capsule was given to 13-year-old Yana Stepanenko, who took part in the Boston Marathon and ran 5 kilometres on prostheses. In this way, she raised UAH 615 thousand for a prosthesis for 30-year-old defender Oleksandr Ryasnyi.
The capsule is scheduled to be opened on the 50th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence – 24 August 2041.