Kyiv’s Independence Square has long been the heart of Ukraine’s revolutions, and for many, it is the only place where their loved ones can truly be honoured.
As the war in Ukraine enters its 1,000th day, a sea of blue and yellow flags continues to grow in honour of the fallen at Independence Square in the country’s capital.
According to Western estimates, around 80,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in battle.
Many were volunteers who left their civilian lives behind to answer the call to defend their country.
Their loved ones, left alone in grief, hope that their sacrifices won’t be forgotten. They plant small, simple flags, hand-marked with the names and dates of those who died.
Over time, the flags have multiplied, fluttering in the wind as the seasons change and the war drags on.
“I put it here so that someone might pass by and see that this person once lived and gave their life for us,” said Svitlana Kirichenko, who travelled from Cherkasy to replace the weathered flag she had planted over a year ago in honour of her son, who died fighting.
She carefully placed a new one in its place.
“So we can live peacefully among our own people, and not have Russians dictate how we should live and what we should do.”
Associated Press archives show that the first flags appeared on the lawn in May of the war’s first year, shortly after Russian forces withdrew from the Kyiv region and the capital was no longer under the threat of occupation.
Photos from that time show dozens of flags neatly arranged in rows across the grassy field. As the war continued, the place has transformed.
The grass has faded away, replaced by well-worn paths resembling those in a cemetery, winding through thousands of flags.
Among them, many portraits have appeared — brought by relatives — showing confident, smiling faces in military uniforms.
The site is strewn with fresh and dried flowers, a solemn tribute to grief and a cornerstone of Ukrainian history.
Independence Square, after all, has long been the heart of Ukraine’s revolutions. For many, it is the only fitting place for their loved ones to be remembered.
City authorities have no control over this memorial. It was created by people themselves, driven by a deep need to honour their fallen in the absence of an official government memorial.
Soldiers and families come here to sit for long stretches, gazing quietly into the distance.
New flags are added almost daily. Nearby, funeral ceremonies take place almost every day, followed by moments of silence.
Passersby stop, kneel and observe in quiet reverence. But soon, life in the capital moves on, returning to its usual pace.
The memorial keeps growing with each passing day, a reminder of the price Ukraine pays for its freedom.
Video editor • Rory Elliott Armstrong
