Photo: Yellow Ribbon
On the occasion of the Day of Unity of Ukraine, activists from the Yellow Ribbon movement organized a multitude of events in numerous cities in the temporarily occupied territories, as reported by one of the movement’s activists to Hromadske Radio.
«Many cities participated in this action on the Day of Unity, and we published the most beautiful and symbolic photos, including those from Makiivka, postcards from Yenakiyevo in the Donetsk region, Melitopol, and numerous photos from Crimea. Activists were seen organizing mini-flash mobs with «half men», connecting Kyiv and Simferopol, Lviv and Donetsk.
Just yesterday, we received hundreds of photos, including from Henichesk, Skadovsk, Zaliznyi Port, and Enerhodar. This truly unites people and demonstrates that on this Day of Unity, Ukrainians, even under occupation, are willing to take risks to show that they are an integral part of Ukraine. They are prepared to fight for their freedom, displaying the values of courage and resistance», — stated the activist.
While some actions were planned in advance, others were organized spontaneously.
«Of course, we made some preparations, such as sewing a flag in Crimea or Makiivka. We took these photos in advance to ensure the safety of people so that they would not be tracked down by Russian security forces and would be safe. However, we also received many photos from other activists», — the activist mentioned
The Yellow Ribbon movement continues to grow in terms of participants.
«We never experience a decline in the number of active people; it only grows. Whether it’s a symbolic date for the Ukrainian people or incidents like explosions in Crimea or the Donetsk region, it attracts more and more people. Any explosion or panic among Russians reminds Ukrainians under occupation that the enemy is ready to leave this territory. They are aware of the threat from the Ukrainian Armed Forces and want to be part of this common victory», — the activist emphasized
All the cities participating in the Unity Day campaign have been involved in Yellow Ribbon Movement activities before. The movement, with approximately 13,000 members across the temporarily occupied territories, is known for its widespread presence and impact. While it might be challenging to cover all Ukrainians in every settlement involved in these resistance tasks, the Yellow Ribbon movement strives to leave its mark of solidarity and resistance.