Kyivans carried flowers to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred memorial and lit lamps in memory of fallen peaceful protesters.
For the eighth year in a row, on February 20, Ukrainians honor the memory of 107 Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, who laid down their lives for freedom and the European choice.
Traditionally, the ceremony took place near the memorial cross on the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred in the center of Kyiv, where activists were killed in February 2014 during the Revolution of Dignity events.
Every year, the commemoration is held quietly and with prayers. And this year – to the sound of a siren. However, the “Airborne alarm” signal did not stop Kyivites from visiting the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. One by one, they walked with flowers and white angels, which are hung for the “Angels of Remembrance” campaign. By the way, she started it singer and social activist Anzhelika Rudnytska.
Smiling and friendly as always, she tells our publication that she traditionally carved this year’s angels together with the students of school No. 29 in the Obolon district.
“They (students, — ed.) I am very active. Together we carved several hundred angels for the silent campaign. In general, they are created all over the world. More than 20 countries on all continents have already joined the campaign. How many cities are involved is hard to imagine!” says Rudnytska.
Along with dozens of people hanging white angels along the Alley of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, there was also the widow of the Hero of the Heavenly Hundred Viktor Shvets, Mrs. Tamara.
“On the eve of this date, I don’t want to talk to anyone, I prefer to be alone… Time doesn’t heal, the pain is the same,” the woman admits to our publication.
Her husband, Viktor Shvets, died on the Maidan on February 19, 2014 at the age of 58 from bullet wounds. Mrs. Tamara is still trying to find the truth – who exactly fired those shots.
“Investigations and meetings of judges are moving slowly. And it was like that from the first days…”, she adds.
He paid tribute to the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko. He thanked the people who bravely and uncompromisingly fought for the European future of our country.
“Eternal tribute to our Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, who gave their lives for the future of Ukraine — European and democratic. Then Ukraine showed that it is a country of strong and courageous people. Today, after 9 years, Ukrainians amaze the world with their heroism and steadfastness,” Klitschko said.
Throughout the morning, officials and government officials came to lay flowers at the Heroes’ Memorial. Among them was director of the Social Policy Department of the KMDA, Ruslan Svitliy. He noted that today we all honor the memory of people for whom the words of our national anthem: “We will lay down our soul and body for our freedom” would be not just words, but a life credo.
“We honor the memory of people whose self-sacrifice will forever remain in the people’s memory as a feat in the name of the freedom of the Ukrainian people, a reminder of the highest price paid for the values of Ukrainians,” he said.
Together with Ruslan Svitly, he laid blue and yellow flowers at the memorial cross and Director of the Kyiv City Center for Assistance to ATO Participants George Kunach, who has been fighting in the Russian-Ukrainian war since the ATO.
Joined in laying flowers and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk.
“The Heavenly Hundred are the flashlights of our souls, which were the first to signal the horror that Russia is carrying. And it was they who became the first victims in this war. At the same time, they showed the courage to fight for the right to freedom,” he commented.
As “Evening Kyiv” reported earlier, a number of events were organized in the capital for the Day of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. This year, during a full-scale war, they will be held under the slogan “Heavenly Hundred – the first heroes of the Russian-Ukrainian war.”
Dasha HRYSHINAphoto Boris KORPUSENKA
