Protests in Ukraine escalate

[Natalka]

Aug 22 Col. Andriy Lysenko: In Maryinka district, SBU found a cache with over 2 tons of TNT



Euromaidan PR ‏@EuromaidanPR 9h9 hours ago
Rus hybrid forces fired 54 times upon Ukr troops over last day. Equally tense in Donetsk & Mariupol sectors 22/20 attacks - ATO press center

4h4 hours ago No KIA, but 8 WIA among UA servicemen in the #war zone in E #Ukraine over the last 24h - official

[Natalka]

#Ukraine military today received new tanks,trucks,fighters,APC`s,etc

[Natalka]

August 23 is the Day of the National Flag in Ukraine, a national holiday celebrating one of our most powerful symbols.

In the past two years, the Ukrainian flag has become more than an official symbol of our country; it has taken on a new meaning and values, evoking strong feelings and emotions in each Ukrainian.

The blue and yellow colours were linked to the Kyivan State even before the Christianization of Kyivan Rus. Almost all the coats of arms of major Ukrainian cities are framed in blue and yellow. In the 18th century, regimental and company flags carried by the Kozaks (Cossacks) were often made of blue banners decorated with yellow cross, stars, weapons and images of saints.

The blue and yellow flag has always been a symbol of the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom.
Today, our flag stands for Ukraine’s fight against the last totalitarian and post-Soviet empire – Russia.
The flag of Ukraine is a symbol of our independence, our European future, our national dignity and pride, a symbol of a free, invincible and peace-minded nation.

[Natalka]

Петро Порошенко ‏@poroshenko 7h7 hours ago Щиро вітаю з Днем Державного Прапора! І Слава Україні!

Sincerely congratulations with the day of State flag! And Glory To Ukraine!

President Petro Poroshenko took part in the solemn ceremony of raising the National Flag of Ukraine at Sofiyivska Square.

The Head of State stressed that respect to national symbols demonstrate public consciousness, capacity and readiness to join efforts and overcome the challenges and threats that fall on us. "We face a very challenging task – to do so that our flag flies again over Donetsk and Luhansk, Simferopol and Sevastopol", Petro Poroshenko said.

[Natalka]

19h19 hours ago Euromaidan PR Retweeted Ще той Кудимець
Ukraine marks the Day of the National Flag w/ Guinness Record, world's largest flower flag 13 057 sq.m. ; 1 1/2 acres

[Natalka]

Ukrainian flag hoisted on #Avdiivka industrial zone verge (practically #Donetsk outskirts)



#ATO

[Natalka]

[Natalka]

2h2 hours ago Very emotional ceremony of 25th #Ukraine Independence Day celebration. Right now in the central #Kyiv



Ukraine troops at the Independence Day parade in Kyiv

[Natalka]

President of Ukraine Poroshenko addresses parade



Poroshenko: we have done that Putin called "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of XX century"

[Natalka]

Minute of silence

Big photo Kyiv; left top Odessa, Dnipro, Lviv





Past presidents of Ukraine - except for disgraced Yanukovych

[Natalka]

March of the volunteers and military

[Natalka]

Pope Francis on Wednesday once again appealed for peace in Ukraine, urging all parties in the conflict, as well as international bodies, to “strengthen the initiatives to resolve the conflict, release the hostages, and respond to the humanitarian emergency.”

"In these last weeks, the international Observers have expressed concern for the worsening situation in eastern Ukraine. Today, as that dear Nation celebrates its national holiday – which this year coincides with the 25th anniversary of independence – I assure them of my prayer for peace and I renew my appeal to all the parties involved and to the international bodies that they might strengthen the initiatives to resolve the conflict, release the hostages, and respond to the humanitarian emergency.”

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2016...kraine/1253261

[Natalka]

3,155 people in vyshyvankas created the chain of unity in Odessa on the Independence Day

[Natalka]

Very brave people in Russia -

Yesterday, activists in Russia's St. Petersburg celebrated Ukraine's Independence Day with one-person vigils in the city center. As one participant Marianna Hanukova reported, you were always surrounded by the police and the nationalists, who attempted to shove their own Soviet "truth" onto you. This time it didn't come to blows. The activists held out all day outside and released balloons into the air in the evening. One person was arrested: for alleged non-compliance with the 50-meter distance to the nearest demonstrators. The walking pedestrians responded partly very positively, some were indifferent.

[Natalka]

RIP

Oleksandr Deresh from Lviv (born 16.08.1974) was killed in Eastern Ukraine on August 22, 2016. Oleksandr was a platoon commander and senior officer of the 5th artillery battery of the 2nd artillery battalion.
He leaves behind a daughter and a son.

Вічна пам'ять! Eternal Memory!
Герої не вмирають! Heroes do not die!