Julian Knysh, Australian-Ukrainian filmmaker and journalist reporting for the AFUO from Kyiv, has described that notwithstanding the exhaustion of Ukrainians, the mood of optimism and unity was unmistakeable in Kyiv on Ukrainian Independence Day this year.
“People are proud to be Ukrainian. Although tired and weary from dealing with the invasion every day, crowds walked down Khryshchatyk St on Independence Day, to view russian tanks and captured equipment. This was a show of strength – nothing more was needed except the simple presence of being there,” said Julian.
“There was a celebratory mood of who we are as Ukrainians, what we have survived, the strength and resilience we have discovered. By evening, young people danced their hearts out to street music.
“There was also a deep feeling of gratitude to the armed forces, who are sacrificing everything so we can have this moment of freedom,” he added.
Julian describes the country’s largest national flag, signed by defenders from Chernihiv to Odesa, being raised by President Zelenskyy at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in World War II in Kyiv.
