On this anniversary, President Zelensky acknowledges the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people, leaving a lasting impact on survivors and their families.
**Ukraine Reflects on Three Years Since Russian Invasion with Somber Commemoration**
**Ukraine Reflects on Three Years Since Russian Invasion with Somber Commemoration**
As Ukraine marks the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, the day serves as a somber reminder of loss and trauma for many Ukrainians.
On February 24, 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a poignant video tribute, honoring the sacrifices made by Ukrainians over the devastating three years since the onset of the Russian invasion. The subdued commemoration was devoid of large-scale festivities, focusing instead on remembrance of those lost and the hardships endured.
Among those reflecting on the anniversary is Olha Shtepan, a Ukrainian refugee now in Hamburg, Germany. As she traveled to work, memories of the invasion brought her to tears, illustrating the enduring emotional wounds inflicted by the conflict. “It’s a wound that doesn’t heal,” she lamented, recalling the chaos as she rushed to rescue her sister’s children from Kyiv when the invasion began.
Subsequent to the heavy bombardment that characterized the early stages of the war, Shtepan’s family became part of an overwhelming exodus, traversing a blown-up bridge that has now become a haunting symbol of the suffering caused by the invasion. “At that time, I did not know that we are going to hell,” she remarked, encapsulating the confusion and despair felt by many during those dark days.
The month of February has become an especially painful reminder of those events for refugees like Shtepan and the broader Ukrainian community. Memorials dotting the landscape serve as constant reminders of the loss, with some remnants of destroyed vehicles starkly visible in areas once traversed by fleeing families.
In Kyiv, efforts to honor the memories of those lost continue, as organizations enhance public spaces with installations that emphasize the ongoing emotional and collective trauma of the war. One initiative featured a striking animated sculpture of pulsating hearts at the central railway station, symbolizing the ongoing remembrance of individuals who have lost their lives due to the conflict. Each heartbeat correlates to messages honoring loved ones and serves to demonstrate the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges.
As Ukraine engages in this solemn reflection, the broader implications of the war's anniversary resonate throughout the nation and beyond, reminding the world of the persistent impact of conflict on human lives.
Among those reflecting on the anniversary is Olha Shtepan, a Ukrainian refugee now in Hamburg, Germany. As she traveled to work, memories of the invasion brought her to tears, illustrating the enduring emotional wounds inflicted by the conflict. “It’s a wound that doesn’t heal,” she lamented, recalling the chaos as she rushed to rescue her sister’s children from Kyiv when the invasion began.
Subsequent to the heavy bombardment that characterized the early stages of the war, Shtepan’s family became part of an overwhelming exodus, traversing a blown-up bridge that has now become a haunting symbol of the suffering caused by the invasion. “At that time, I did not know that we are going to hell,” she remarked, encapsulating the confusion and despair felt by many during those dark days.
The month of February has become an especially painful reminder of those events for refugees like Shtepan and the broader Ukrainian community. Memorials dotting the landscape serve as constant reminders of the loss, with some remnants of destroyed vehicles starkly visible in areas once traversed by fleeing families.
In Kyiv, efforts to honor the memories of those lost continue, as organizations enhance public spaces with installations that emphasize the ongoing emotional and collective trauma of the war. One initiative featured a striking animated sculpture of pulsating hearts at the central railway station, symbolizing the ongoing remembrance of individuals who have lost their lives due to the conflict. Each heartbeat correlates to messages honoring loved ones and serves to demonstrate the resilience of the Ukrainian spirit in the face of unimaginable challenges.
As Ukraine engages in this solemn reflection, the broader implications of the war's anniversary resonate throughout the nation and beyond, reminding the world of the persistent impact of conflict on human lives.
