Cities of Ukraine paid tribute to the memory of fallen defenders with a moment of silence (PHOTOS)

On October 1, Ukraine marked the Day of Defenders with a nationwide moment of silence held in cities across the country to honor the fallen.

Hromadske Radio’s correspondents in Kyiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Lviv attended events in their respective cities.

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Kyiv

In Kyiv, at 9 a.m., relatives of the victims and other supporters gathered at Maidan Nezalezhnosti, some holding portraits of the fallen defenders.

Kropyvnytskyi

In Kropyvnytskyi, celebrations took place in the city’s main square. Participants observed a nationwide minute of silence to honor the memory of the fallen defenders.

Following the commemoration, representatives from the Regional Military Administration and the City Council presented servicemen with awards and certificates of honor. Relatives of defenders who volunteer and actively participate in public life were also recognized.

The event was attended by military personnel, their families, volunteers, law enforcement officers, clergy, and concerned citizens.

Odesa

In Odesa, a Remembrance Bell was unveiled in Memory Square near the Regional Military Administration. The opening ceremony was attended by veterans, relatives of fallen soldiers, and local authorities. After the official ceremony, the commemoration continued at the Alley of Heroes, where new names were unveiled.

Mykolaiv

In Mykolaiv, the families of fallen heroes of Ukraine opened the Alley of Glory. It is located near a makeshift memorial by the destroyed Regional Military Administration building.

The idea to create the memorial stands with photos of fallen defenders came from the families themselves. This was stated by Ruslana Myroniuk, the mother of fallen soldier Oleksiy Volkov and head of the NGO United Family of Mykolaiv Region.

«We came together, raised money for the metal structures, and had the banners printed for free. The memory of our heroes must live forever!», — Myroniuk said.

Hundreds of Mykolaiv residents—including families of fallen defenders, volunteers, military personnel, and concerned citizens—attended the opening of the Alley of Glory, bringing flowers, lamps, flags, and photos of the heroes. A minute of silence was observed in their memory.

Lviv

On October 1, Ukraine not only celebrated the Day of Defenders but also the 82nd anniversary of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

In Lviv, a memorial service was held at Lychakiv Cemetery to honor the fallen heroes of Ukraine. Attendees laid flowers and candles at the graves of soldiers in the Field of Mars, where the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, UPA soldiers, and defenders who died during the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war are buried.

The joint memorial service for the fallen was led by Metropolitan Epifaniy.

Mariana Chernievich, Lilia Kocherga, Yulia Afanasyeva, Yulia Vynnyk, Ivan Stanislavsky / Hromadske Radio