The King of Sweden was touched by a story from Kherson region about the flag

During the presentation of credentials, Ambassador of Ukraine to Sweden Svitlana Zalishchuk reminded King Carl XVI Gustaf of his gift to a village in the Kherson region - a Swedish flag that had been saved from the Russians during the occupation. This story touched the monarch and became a symbol of invincibility.

This was reported by Ambassador of Ukraine to Sweden Svitlana Zalishchuk.

Ms. Ambassador began her mission in the country with a solemn ceremony of presenting her credentials to King Carl XVI Gustaf. During the meeting she recalled the story that connects Sweden and a village in Kherson region.

In 2008, the king visited Ukraine and came to Staroshvedske (now Zmiivka), a settlement on the banks of the Dnipro River where resettled Swedes had lived since the 18th century. He presented the local community with a national flag. Since then, it has been hanging in the village council and has become a symbol of the historical connection between the two peoples.

Zalishchuk said that during the full-scale war, the Russian occupiers tried to take the flag away, but the village elder Mykola Kurivchak managed to save the relic. He hid it for 8.5 months during the occupation. Although the flag was damaged, he managed to preserve it and take it to a safe place after the village was liberated.

Residents of Zmiivka, who have now become IDPs themselves, took a symbolic photo with this "wounded" flag for His Majesty. "They wanted to show that Russians can destroy buildings, but they are not able to destroy important symbols," the ambassador said.

Svitlana Zalishchuk handed the King a photo and told this story during the audience. According to her, Carl XVI Gustaf was touched and moved by the fact that the gift made more than 15 years ago became part of the community's struggle for identity and memory.

Recently, Bonn hosted the Kherson Week, which began on August 24. The event included a series of cultural and educational events, business meetings, and negotiations aimed at strengthening cooperation between the cities.

Last year, the Swedish government decided to provide Ukraine with an additional financial package worth EUR 26.4 million. The funds will be used to support energy-efficient projects in communities: modernization of district heating and water supply, energy efficiency of municipal buildings, development of urban electric transport and renewable energy.

Анна Літман