Odessa residents paid tribute to Ukraine's fallen defenders at European Square

A memorial event was held in Odesa on the Day of Remembrance for the Defenders of Ukraine who died fighting for the country’s independence. Participants gathered at European Square to observe a minute of silence in honor of the fallen soldiers and to remember their loved ones.

An Intenta photojournalist attended the event.

Residents came to the event carrying portraits of their fallen relatives, Ukrainian flags, and sunflowers. The organizers called on everyone to join in the collective tribute and emphasized that the memory of the defenders should be more than just symbolic.

A separate part of the event was the unveiling of new banners on the Alley of Heroes. An additional 48 names of fallen defenders of Ukraine were added to them.

Following this update, the Alley of Heroes now features 675 names of fallen servicemen and women. Each name represents a unique story, a family, and a person who gave their life for Ukraine.

The Day of Remembrance for the Defenders of Ukraine is observed annually on August 29. The date was chosen to honor the Ukrainian soldiers who died while breaking out of the encirclement near Ilovaisk in 2014.

Participants in the Odesa event emphasized the importance of preserving the memory of the fallen and supporting their families. For the loved ones of fallen soldiers, such events provide an opportunity to collectively remember those whom the community has lost.

The organizers of the event also called on people not to limit remembrance to specific dates. According to their appeal, remembering the fallen means continuing to support Ukraine and helping those who are currently defending its independence.

Юлія Калабайда