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The United People of Ukmergė Gathered to Support Ukraine

At noon on 22 January, Ukrainian flags were waving, people were gathering and Ukrainian songs were being sung on a shared-use path for bicycles and pedestrians on the banks of the Šventoji River in the city of Ukmergė, which is named after Ukmergė's long-standing city partner, Kamianets-Podilskyi.

Holding their hands tightly together, the residents of Ukmergė formed a human chain and thus expressed their support for the Ukrainians who are suffering from the war, and commemorated the Ukrainian Unity Day.

Each year on 22 January, Ukraine celebrates its Unity Day, to commemorate the Act of Unification of the People's Republic of Ukraine and the People's Republic of Western Ukraine proclaimed in 1919. This Act was the culmination of the desire of the inhabitants of both parts of Ukraine - Prydniprovia and Transnistria - to live in one state. It was a crucial event for the statehood of Ukraine.

"The 24th of February is approaching, a day that will mark the second year of the war in Ukraine. Putin's Russian army is dropping bombs, flying drones and doing everything they can to make the Ukrainian people feel unsafe and to break their spirit. But Ukrainians are not tired, they continue to stand up against evil - they are fighting Russian military aggression and they are astonishing the whole world with their determination to defend themselves and their unity," said Darius Varnas, Mayor of Ukmergė Municipality, during the support campaign. He encouraged people to remain united and not to stop supporting the Ukrainian people who are fighting for our Freedom.

Also, D. Varnas invited everyone to come to the Great Hall of the Ukmergė Cultural Centre on 22 February at 6 pm, exactly one month later, to listen to the concert of the Academic Wind Orchestra from Kyiv Municipality. This concert serves as a symbol of freedom, invincibility, love for our identity and democratic values, and as a gratitude for our important support to the Ukrainian people.

The event was organised by the Ukmergė District Municipality Administration and the Ukmergė Cultural Centre.

Information from IT and Public Relations Department

Photos by Dainius Vytas