The European Commission marks Ukraine Independence Day, in strong show of support to Ukrainian people

24 August marks Ukraine’s national day, which commemorates the declaration of independence in 1991. In the midst of Russia’s brutal aggression, the European Commission joins Ukraine in celebrating its thirty-first year of independence. President Ursula von der Leyen participated yesterday in the online Summit of the Crimea Platform, during which she restated the Commission unwavering support for Ukraine. Last night, the Commission’s headquarters building was lit up with the colours of the Ukrainian flag. Photos are available here.  This morning, President von der Leyen, in a video message, paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Ukrainian people and highlighted the many strands of enduring European support. This morning the President also participated in a special event in the Grand Place of Brussels organised by the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, the Association of Ukrainians in Belgium and the Ukrainian Civil Society Hub. During this event, a 30 m long Ukrainian flag will be unfurled. Audiovisual material of the event will be available in the AV portal shortly. Furthermore, the Berlaymont is currently hosting the exhibition “Irpin.Invincible”, dedicated to the Ukrainian city of Irpin, the war and the life in the city under Russian occupation. The exhibition shows the damage caused to the city, which has been designated as a “Hero City” for its courageous effort in resisting the Russian invaders. You can find an updated version of the factsheets on EU solidarity with Ukraine here and here.