The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The ceremonial opening of an updated memorial space honoring the fallen Defenders of Ukraine took place in the center of Dnipro during the bright Christmas holidays.
In Heroes Square near the military administration, portraits and stories of 45 warriors of the Defense Forces of Ukraine who gave their lives defending the Ukrainian people, the country, and the state were displayed.
Correspondents of ArmyInform attended the opening of the updated memorial space.
The placement of 45 new stories is part of the large commemorative project “Stories of Heroes”, — which serves as a form of temporary memorialization of fallen warriors associated with Dnipro.
Among the main initiators of the project are the 128th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade “Dyke Pole” and the Dnipro City Council. The collection of stories of the fallen Heroes became possible thanks to coordinated cooperation between the city authorities and military units.
“Today, here beside us are those who, through their daily work, continue the cause of defending our state. And when we communicate with them and ask what they are fighting for, we hear the answer: first and foremost — for their loved ones.
So that our families live in normal, peaceful cities. So that our children can safely go to school and kindergartens. So that our cities do not turn into something like Bakhmut”, — said Oleksandr, a representative of the 128th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Dyke Pole”, during his ceremonial address.
According to him, what unites all Defenders — both fallen and living — is, above all, that they fought and continue to fight first and foremost for their loved ones, their dearest people, so that they can look to the future.
This is felt especially poignantly during Christmas and the approaching New Year, which everyone awaits with hope and faith in a bright future and the coming of peace.
“Eternal memory to the defenders who gave their lives. They took up arms to protect what is most precious — their families. So that each of us could stand here and now, on Ukrainian land, under a Ukrainian sky.
They fought — and we will continue, so that no one is ever forgotten. We will remember everyone, honor everyone, and continue our fight, despite grief and pain”, — assured Anna, a representative of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar”.
“Every fallen Hero is a story that will be engraved in our hearts forever. So we value, respect, and remember. Glory to Ukraine!” — emphasized Yevhenii, a representative of the 31st Brigade named after Major General Oleksandr Radiievskyi.
“It is very valuable that in such large cities there are alleys like these, where the stories of Heroes are shown. Because every servicemember is already a Hero. He exchanged his ordinary civilian life for the defense of all of us”, — continued Vladyslav, a representative of the 783rd Brigade of the State Special Transport Service.
The serviceman emphasized that the Minute of Silence at 9:00 a.m. is an important ritual of paying tribute to fallen Defenders and called on everyone to honor fallen Ukrainian warriors daily.
“I would like to express deep gratitude to everyone involved in this project, to all the people who made efforts to ensure that this alley with our guys exists here. Because every photograph and every story is not just a photo and a story engraved on paper.
It is a lost son. It is a father who will never again kiss his children. It is a brother with whom you will never again have the conversations you were used to, even when he was on combat duty.
Personally, I have learned to talk to the sky. Before, I only cried to the sky, and now I can smile to it. I already share everything with it. And I want to wish you simply to come here and remind yourselves and your loved ones of whom we owe the celebration of Christmas”, — said Svitlana, the sister of fallen soldier Serhii Dmytrenko of the 138th Dnipro Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade.
The ceremonial opening of the updated memorial space in Heroes Square was concluded by chaplain Dmytro Povorotnyi — a People’s Hero of Ukraine, known for his mission of spiritual support for Ukrainian warriors.
“We are with you in the space of celebrating Christmas. This holiday is always associated with light, and I would transfer this image of light to the existence of our people, because throughout history life has flourished here, and life is fire, life is light.
Generations of Ukrainians were born on this land and carried this light of life forward, passing it on by giving birth to children and raising them in love for the Motherland, for their land, which begins with love for their loved ones”, — he said.
During the moving days of the Christmas holidays, Chaplain Dmytro Povorotnyi called on everyone to carry the light of love, life, and memory of the fallen Defenders into the future.
The opening of the updated memorial space with stories of 45 fallen Warriors of Ukraine gathered many caring visitors. The large turnout testified that the community remembers and deeply honors the memory of the fallen Defenders.
