Before the invasion of Russia, Independence Square in the heart of Kyiv, Ukraine, was a popular spot for tourists to take photos and a peaceful place for locals to stroll on weekends.
However, the thousand days of war have transformed this grassy area into a memorial for the fallen soldiers, adorned with blue and yellow flags – each flag commemorating a soldier who sacrificed their life in the fight against Russia. Many of the fallen were volunteers who set aside civilian life to defend their country.
As Ukraine is in a state of emergency, there are no official government memorials, so this place was established spontaneously by people out of respect and the need for remembrance of the fallen.
Relatives of the fallen soldiers come here to place small and simple flags on the ground, inscribed with the name of the deceased soldier and the date of their sacrifice, then sit quietly for a long time, gazing into the distance. Funerals are held nearly every day in the vicinity, followed by a moment of silence. Passersby pause, kneel, and pay their respects silently.
Fresh and withered flowers scatter the ground. To many, Independence Square is the heart of the Ukrainian revolution and the only fitting place to honor their loved ones.
Svitlana Kirichenko, who lost her son in the war, told the Associated Press, “I place the flag in hopes that someone passing by will see that this person once lived and gave their life for us.”
Kirichenko rushed from the central Ukrainian city of Cherkasy to replace the faded flag she placed a year ago in memory of her son. She carefully places a brand new flag in its spot.
“We want to be able to determine our way of life independently, rather than being under the control or interference of Russia in how we should live and what we should do,” she said.
The first flags appeared in the first year of the war in May 2022, just after the Russian army withdrew from Kyiv. Photo evidence shows dozens of flags neatly lined up on the grass. New flags are added almost daily.
As the war continues, pathways resembling a graveyard have emerged on the grass, weaving through thousands of flags, appearing worn but teeming with stories. Among the flags, many relatives have brought photos displaying confident smiles in military attire.
Svitlana Kanevska, draped in a black hoodie, shields herself from the autumn drizzle as she gazes at the portrait of her boyfriend Serhii Ivanytskyi.
He was killed in action in eastern Ukraine a few months ago.
The photo is a selfie he sent her during a chat, showing him standing in a sunny Ukrainian field. Kanevska carefully wipes away raindrops from the photo.
Since Ivanytskyi joined the army, their time together has been limited, mainly communicating through chat software. He kept his specific location and activities hidden, with their conversations mostly centered around love.
Kanevska reminisces that when Ivanytskyi briefly returned to Kyiv on holiday in December 2023, they passed by this memorial site. He expressed deep sorrow for the boys who had sacrificed their lives.
Ivanytskyi was killed in action in the summer of 2024. She says this was also the reason Ivanytskyi brought her here months ago, hoping she would place flags and photos for him. Kanevska often comes here to mourn her boyfriend.
This memorial site grows larger with each passing day, serving as a reminder of the price Ukraine has paid for its freedom.