The most important flag in Ukraine — all 200 meters (656 toes) of it — was on show at Kyiv’s Olympic stadium on Wednesday, with a whole lot of individuals holding it up whereas singing the nationwide anthem and different patriotic songs.
They have been marking Ukraine’s “Day of Unity,” an impromptu celebration declared by
President Volodymyr Zelensky.
For Serhii Kachinskyi, 45, Unity Day is all about exhibiting the world that on a regular basis Ukrainians like himself aren’t afraid of potential armed battle.
We have now lived with this for eight years, we perceive what’s occurring and we aren’t afraid, we’re standing collectively and that is within the coronary heart of each Ukrainian,” he mentioned.
Whereas he mentioned the state of affairs has felt the identical for a lot of previous eight years, he sees one large distinction.
We turned extra united, we’re considering extra in regards to the nation and we turned extra accountable,” he mentioned.
Wednesday’s significance: Zelensky introduced that at present can be a “Day of Unity” throughout an tackle to the nation on Monday, remarking with irony that his authorities was instructed Wednesday was the day Russia would invade Ukraine.
“We’re instructed that February 16 would be the day of the assault. We are going to make it the Day of Unity. The related decree has already been signed. On this present day, we’ll hoist nationwide flags, placed on blue and yellow ribbons and present the world our unity,” Zelensky mentioned.
Whereas the celebrations have been muted, with some occasions across the nation solely attended by a handful of individuals, flags giant and small have been flying on many avenue corners.
The digital panels usually displaying commercials in Kyiv’s streets have been switched to a video exhibiting the flash flying, and a few authorities buildings have been lined with large blue and yellow banners.
Explaining conflict to kids: Natalya Schamych mentioned she got here to the stadium as a way to be a very good instance for her son. Children weren’t allowed on the occasion, however she’s going to relay the occasions to him. Schamych needs her son to develop as much as be a accountable citizen, so she typically talks about politics and civic responsibility with him, she mentioned.
“I’d like for him to remain in our nation and to have a need to go away. I would like him to have respect for the nation, to reside and work right here,” she mentioned.
She mentioned her son was too younger to know the total image, however that he is aware of what’s going on.
“We try to offer him info in a method he can perceive, we don’t need him to get too scared,” she mentioned. “Within the kindergarten, they’re studying about this, they’ve military folks are available in clarify the state of affairs, he is aware of the place he lives, he is aware of that there’s a conflict.”
Life goes on: In the meantime, speeding to work in central Kyiv, 48-year-old Alim wrapped himself in a Ukrainian flag as if it was a superhero cape. He has been carrying the flag with him daily for eight years now, he instructed CNN.
As a Crimean Tatar, he by no means accepted the Russian annexation of his residence area in 2014.
“It’s my civilian place. I’m from Crimea, I’ve been carrying it because the occupation,” he mentioned.
Across the nook, international dignitaries, together with the German and EU ambassadors to Ukraine, have been laying flowers by the Memorial Wall devoted to those that defended Ukraine throughout the conflict that began in 2014.
Many pinned their coats with blue and yellow ribbons to indicate their solidarity with Ukraine.
For Alim although, Wednesday was simply one other day. One other day of carrying the flag, going about his personal enterprise.
Yulia Kesaieva contributed reporting to this publish.
