Protests in Ukraine escalate

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Khortytsia fighters for the 55th artillery brigade - Easter celebration, fair, performances, etc.

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Ukrainian Easter in Rome at the Basilica



blessing of the Easter baskets

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How beautiful! Pysanka depicting Nadiya Savchenko, Ukrainian pilot in prison in Russia

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This is how Easter 2016 looked like on Ukraine's frontline - Donbas

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2016 will be the second year when Ukraine will celebrate the Day of Remembrance on May 8, as well as Victory Day on May 9.

Before 2014, Ukrainians celebrated Victory Day in the "Great Patriotic War" of 1941-1945. By omitting the first years of WWII from national memory during Soviet times, the USSR attempted to cover up the secret Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, by which Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union agreed to carve up Europe between themselves. The purpose of the myth of the Great Patriotic War was to show the USSR as a country that was only invaded, and to hide its own invasions into sovereign states.

Today, thanks to decommunization efforts, Ukraine will remember the victims of the war and victory over nazism, rather than continue perpetuating the Soviet myth of the invincible empire.

Russia is continuing illegally sending military equipment and soldiers across the Ukrainian border into Donetsk/Lugansk regions to celebrate their Victory Day on May 9

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UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Orlando Bloom, greets 4 year old Ksyusha at a community support centre in Svyatogorsk



The actor traveled to conflict-hit eastern Ukraine as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador to raise awareness of the global education crisis that children in humanitarian emergencies face.

“It’s been very revealing. It is strange to me that here we are in Europe and there are children who have been fighting and caring for their lives in basements just a few miles from here. When you think that only two percent of humanitarian aid goes to education, it is just simply not enough. Children need education for their future. Children need education for a sense of community, a sense of belonging, a routine and a possibility of a life.”

“Our attention can not be drawn away from a crisis just because it is no longer in the news. There are people who live a life that is beyond challenging and they really need us to be aware in order to be able to support them.”

In eastern Ukraine, and in emergencies across the world, UNICEF is working around the clock to get children back to learning – to keep them safe and secure their futures. UNICEF so far has supported the repair and rehabilitation of 57 schools in Eastern Ukraine and has supplied hundreds of thousands of children with vital supplies like schoolbooks, desks and pencils, as well as psychological support and catch-up classes. UNICEF has also reached nearly 280,000 children with information on the risks posed by land mines and unexploded ordnance, which litter communities near the frontline.

http://euromaidanpress.com/2016/05/0...stern-ukraine/

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Never forget!
The World War II affected almost every Ukrainian family. Struggle against Nazism claimed millions of lives.
For the second year, Ukraine celebrates May 8, Memory and Reconciliation Day, when we refresh our memories about each war victim, together with the rest of Europe.

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10 mountain climbers placed a wreath of red poppies on the statue of Mother Motherland in Kyiv for Remembrance Day, on May 8.
The sculpture was built in 1981 on the territory of the WWII History Museum to commemorate the victory of the Soviet Union in what was called the "Great Patriotic War."
Today, it wears this crown of poppies, the symbol of remembrance, to remember all the victims in the war, and to recall that the war didn't start in 1941 when Germany invaded the USSR, but was predated by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, following which the USSR itself invaded a number of territories, having agreed with Nazi Germany to carve up Europe.
The director of the Institute of National Memory Volodymyr Viatrovych says that the communist hammer and sickle will be removed from the statue till the end of the year.
Last year, the wreath was placed on the statue by famous roofer Mustang Wanted.

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Day of Remembrance

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May 9, Ukraine and Post-Soviet countries mark the Day of Victory over Nazism. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko honored the memory of the fallen heroes. The commemorative procession led by the President walked by the alley of the Fallen Heroes, where 34 graves of soldiers who died during the Second World War are situated. Veterans of the World War II, veterans of the ATO, Prime Minister of Ukraine, Head of the Parliament, members of the Government, MPs, and representatives of all religious confessions in Ukraine took part in the commemoration.

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"Mothers of Heroes" photo exhibition was opened yesterday in Kyiv - The National Museum of History of Ukraine in the Second World War

. It is dedicated to Mother's Day, which coincided with Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation this year.

The President praised the strength of every Ukrainian mother and wife whose sons and husbands defend the Homeland. According to Petro Poroshenko, they demonstrate the same courage and heroism as that of the Ukrainian warriors on the frontline.

'Mothers of heroes are also Ukrainian heroes, for they face even greater pressure! I would like to emphasize that our victory depends on you as well. Just as on the heroism our defenders - your sons and husbands,' the President addressed the attendees.

'Your children and husbands are also children of our Ukrainian Homeland. When they think of who they defend, they think of their mothers, wives and Homeland. That is why they are capable of rebuffing any enemy with their courage and patriotism,' the Head of State added.

Petro Poroshenko highlighted the sacrifice of the Ukrainian women who found enough strength to support the decision of their sons and husbands to fight against the aggressor for the sake of peace in the country.

'A strong and tender woman stands behind every soldier and officer of Ukraine. She was raising him not for war, but she understood his choice, blessed him and protects him with her prayers and mother's heart. Only heroic women can find enough strength to bless their sons and husbands for the protection of Ukraine,' the President said.

'Wiping tears you let your children go to war. Supporting this choice and blessing your child for the protection of Ukraine is a true feat of a mother! We bow our heads to the courage of mothers who brought up heroic sons and daughters of Ukraine who defend the Homeland and rebuff the enemy. We must pay special tribute to those mothers who lost their children in war,' the President noted.

The Head of State urged all Ukrainians to support mothers of heroes and express gratitude to them today. 'Do not let them be alone today. Glory to Ukrainian mothers and glory to Ukraine!' Petro Poroshenko said.

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The Ukrainian photo project Фото проекты created a series of photos with soldiers and their mothers for Mother's Day. "It is mothers that brought up those that today rose up to protect our country," they emphasized.









more here

https://www.facebook.com/%D0%A4%D0%B...8611305231586/

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Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 7h7 hours ago Rus's proxies fired 9 times upon Ukr troops over last day. Most intense attacks come from outskirts of occupied Donetsk - ATO press center

5h5 hours ago Ukraine One warfighter KIA, 2 WIA by an explosion in the Luhansk Oblast this morning - Luhansk Regional State Administration

2h2 hours ago
2 Ukr servicemen were killed over the last day (hit explosive devices nr Krymske & Avdiivka), 4 were wounded in act/

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May 9

Mykolaiv



#Odesa All patriotism, flags, flowers and (not) sorry, no tanks







Lviv