Volodymyr Zelenskyy marks National Flag Day as Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in a ceremony in Kyiv on Saturday marking Ukraine’s National Flag Day. The holiday was inaugurated in 2004 by a presidential decree from then-President Leonid Kuchma.

It commemorates the day Ukrainian deputies brought the blue and yellow flag into the Verkhovna Rada – Ukrainian parliament – as they pushed towards independence following a failed Soviet coup on 23 August, 1991. Kyiv declared its independence from the Soviet Union the following day.

Every year, on the eve of Independence Day, Ukraine’s flag is raised above government buildings and from windows across the country to celebrate the occasion. The flag is not just a symbol of the state, but also of national dignity and identity that unites Ukrainians.

"This flag symbolises what is most precious to hundreds of thousands of our soldiers, men and women from all over Ukraine, who are defending not just a particular direction, not just Vovchansk or Dobropillia, but our entire Ukraine," said Zelenskyy.

"This flag is a purpose, a purpose and a dream for many of our people in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. They cherish this flag, they cherish it because they know that we will not give our land to the occupiers," he added.

A sombre celebration was carried out in the capital Kyiv, where the flag was raised near City Hall on Saturday. The ceremony was attended by military personnel, top lawmakers, deputies of the Kyiv City Council and representatives of the capital’s community.

“Ukraine continues to fight for its independence. Our flag is a symbol of statehood, our strength. It is a talisman with which Ukrainian soldiers go into battle,” said Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

“We solemnly raise the national flag in honour of our defenders, in honour of the steadfastness of Ukrainians. With it, we pay tribute to the fallen heroes. Ukraine has shown that it will not retreat in the bloody struggle for its will, its land, and its European future,” he added.

The holiday comes as Russia continues to target Ukrainian cities amid its intensified aerial assault, despite ongoing international efforts, championed by US President Donald Trump, to end the Kremlin’s all-out war on Kyiv, well into its fourth year.

On Saturday, three people were injured as a result of Russian shelling of the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk in the eastern Donbas region. Two of the wounded were transferred to hospital for treatment for what officials say were moderate injuries.

According to the Donetsk regional military administration, Russian troops struck private housing, causing at least 10 explosions. An investigation has been launched to determine the full extent of the damage.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry says that it has taken control of the settlements of Seredne and Kleban-Byk in the Donetsk.

President Zelenskyy meanwhile accused Russia again of insincerity in its desire for peace as he slammed the Kremlin for avoiding talks with Ukraine to end its invasion, launched in February 2022.

In a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Ukrainian capital on Friday, Zelenskyy stressed the need for security guarantees, akin to NATO’s Article 5, to ensure his country’s continued freedom.

He also accused his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of stalling negotiations citing a desire to further occupy Ukrainian land. He called on his allies in Europe and the United States to exert more pressure on Russia to force them to the negotiating table and end the war.