August 29 is the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of Ukraine who died fighting for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country. Since yesterday, not only families and friends of fallen soldiers have gathered at the Memorial Wall in Kyiv, but also ordinary people who want to thank the heroes in this way.
This special day was established to commemorate the tragedy near Ilovaisk, when on August 29, 2014, during the previously agreed withdrawal of Ukrainian troops along the humanitarian corridor, the Russian command violated the agreement and gave the order to fire on the convoy with heavy weapons at close range. More than a thousand Ukrainian soldiers were killed, wounded, missing or taken prisoner.
The route of this deadly corridor led through fields of ripe sunflowers, therefore, although this flower is often associated with good harvest, sun and joy, in Ukraine it has become a symbol of the day of remembrance of those who, in the fight for their homeland, for the free future of their families and friends, gave what is most precious – their lives.
