1 / 12Before Russia’s invasion, this was just an ordinary green lawn nestled in the heart of Ukraine’s capital. It was a peaceful space where tourists paused to snap photos, and locals wandered during leisurely weekends. (Image: Shutterstock)
2 / 12However, the past 1,000 days of war have reshaped it into something different – a makeshift memorial adorned with countless blue-and-yellow flags, each one standing in tribute to a soldier who perished fighting Russia, the PTI reported. Many of these fallen were volunteers, civilians who left behind their ordinary lives to defend their homeland. (Image: AP)
3 / 12For those left behind – family, friends, and loved ones – the grief is overwhelming, but they cling to the hope that these sacrifices won’t be forgotten. They plant modest flags, marked by hand with the names and dates of the deceased. Over time, these flags have multiplied, swaying in the breeze as the seasons shift and the war relentlessly continues. (Image: AP)
4 / 12“I put it here so that someone passing by might see it and know that this person once lived and gave their life for us,” PTI quoted Svitlana Kirichenko. She had traveled from Cherkasy to replace the weathered flag she placed more than a year ago in honor of her son, who lost his life in combat. With great care, she planted a fresh flag in its place. “This is so we can live peacefully among our own people and not have Russians dictate how we should live or what we should do,” she explained. (Image: AP)
5 / 12Associated Press (AP) archives indicate that the first flags appeared on this lawn in May of the war’s first year. This was shortly after Russian troops retreated from the Kyiv region, and the immediate threat of the city’s occupation dissipated. Early photographs from that time show only a few dozen flags, neatly arranged in rows on the grassy field. (Image: AP)
6 / 12As the conflict wore on, this site transformed. The vibrant green grass has been replaced by well-trodden paths, resembling those in a cemetery, snaking through a growing expanse of thousands of flags. Among the flags, more and more portraits have begun to appear – photographs brought by relatives. They show confident, smiling faces captured in military uniforms, now haunting reminders of lives cut short. (Image: AP)
7 / 12On a drizzly autumn day, Svitlana Kanevska stood cloaked in a black hood, bent over a portrait of her boyfriend, Serhii Ivanytskyi, who had been killed months earlier while fighting in eastern Ukraine, the PTI reported. The photo, a selfie he had once sent her during one of their exchanges, showed him standing in a sunlit Ukrainian field. Kanevska gently wiped the rain from the surface of the image. (Image: AP)
8 / 12Since Serhii joined the military early in the war, their time together had been fleeting, reduced to brief messages. He kept his location and activities largely secret, their conversations centering on expressions of love. Last December, during a rare leave in Kyiv, the two passed by this very memorial. “He said he felt so sorry for the guys,” Kanevska recalled. Serhii was killed in the summer of 2024. “You feel so much pain that you don’t know where to go or what to do,” PTI quoted Kanevska. That’s what eventually brought her here, months ago, to place his flag and photograph among the countless others. Kanevska, who works nearby, often visits the site to mourn. (Image: AP)
9 / 12She is not alone in her grief. The memorial is filled with fresh and dried flowers, a space heavy with sorrow and steeped in Ukrainian history. Independence Square, after all, has long served as the epicenter of Ukraine’s revolutions, making it a fitting place to honor the fallen. (Image: Reuters)
10 / 12This memorial has no official status or oversight from the city authorities. It emerged organically, created by ordinary citizens compelled by a profound need to honor their loved ones. In the absence of a government-sanctioned tribute, this communal effort has grown into a powerful symbol of remembrance. (Image: AP)
11 / 12Soldiers and families frequently gather at the site, sitting in silence for long stretches, gazing into the distance. New flags are added almost every day, each one bearing a fresh story of loss. Nearby, funeral ceremonies take place almost daily, often followed by moments of silence. Passersby pause, kneel, and bow their heads in quiet respect. Yet, as the ceremonies conclude, the bustling rhythm of life in the capital resumes, marching on despite the unrelenting toll of war. The memorial expands day by day, serving as a stark reminder of the price Ukraine continues to pay for its freedom. (Image: AP)
12 / 12“If someone thinks of him, it brings him light where he is. He knows he hasn’t been forgotten,” PTI quoted Andrii Pedychenko. He had come to the memorial to replace the flag of a friend who was killed in action about a year ago. “Each flag is a tragedy. And it reminds us that this is just a small piece because there wouldn’t be enough space here for everyone.” (Image: AP)
