1000 days of war: Kiev square is filled with flags for the fallen of Ukraine!
As the war in Ukraine enters its 1,000th day, a sea of blue and yellow flags continues to rise in honor of the fallen at Independence Square in the nation's capital.
According to Western estimates, around 80,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in battle since Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022. Many were volunteers who left their civilian lives behind to answer the call to defend their country.
Their loved ones hope their sacrifices will not be forgotten, placing small, simple flags hand-marked with the names and dates of those who died. Over time, the flags have multiplied, fluttering in the wind as the seasons change and the war drags on.
AP archives show that the first flags appeared on the lawn in May of the first year of the war, shortly after Russian forces withdrew from the Kiev region and the capital was no longer under threat of invasion.
Photos from the time show dozens of flags neatly arranged in rows across the grass field. As the war continued, the country was transformed. The grass has faded, replaced by well-worn paths that look like those in a cemetery, meandering thousands of flags.
Among them have appeared many portraits brought by relatives showing confident and smiling faces in military uniforms. The site is strewn with fresh and dried flowers, a solemn tribute to grief and a cornerstone of Ukrainian history.
Independence Square, after all, has long been the heart of Ukrainian revolutions. For many, it is the only suitable place to remember their loved ones. The memorial created by the people themselves, driven by a deep need to honor their fallen in the absence of an official government memorial.
Soldiers and other families come here to sit for a long time, quietly gazing into the distance. New flags are added almost daily. Nearby, funeral ceremonies take place almost daily, followed by moments of silence.
Passers-by stop, kneel, and observe with quiet reverence. But soon, life in the capital continues, returning to its usual rhythm. The memorial continues to grow with each passing day, a reminder of the price Ukraine paid for its freedom.
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