For the fourth year in a row during the Russian invasion, Ukrainians in Luxembourg marked their national Flag Day on Saturday.
Anna Dolya, a Ukrainian living in Luxembourg, said the day symbolises the struggle of her people, their values, their freedom, and ultimately their identity as Ukrainians. She explained that the blue and yellow represent the country’s sky and wheat fields.
The celebrations took the form of a procession of cars and motorbikes through and around Luxembourg City, many adorned with large Ukrainian flags. Since 2009, it has been a tradition in Ukraine to honour national symbols such as the flag on the day before Independence Day.
The blue-and-yellow flag was already present at the negotiating table in December 1991, when the end of the Soviet Union was formalised, following the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Inna Yaremenko, recently returned to Luxembourg from Ukraine, stressed that Ukrainians are not fighting for their colours only since 2022 or 2014, but for centuries. She underlined that the struggle for independence has always come at a cost.
Now, in the fourth year of Russia’s invasion, Ukrainians feel more closely bound to their flag than ever before. Much like Luxembourg’s red lion flag during the Second World War, the blue and yellow banner is today the emblem of freedom in Ukraine, marking the towns and villages that remain unoccupied.
Nicolas Zharov, president of the LUkraine association, explained that the flag has become a symbol of peace and security, because wherever it flies, people know the territory is defended. He emphasised that Ukrainians attach great value to their national symbols, for which they have paid a very high price.
The procession on Saturday also had a charitable purpose. LUkraine.org continues to raise donations, this time to support the Ukrainian volunteer regiment “Krahen” with heavy-duty pick-up vehicles.
