Today is a day that hurts!

On 4 June, Ukraine commemorates the children killed as a result of russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. The day was established by a resolution of the Verkhovna Rada in 2021. But today it is no longer just a date. It is a pain that does not subside.

According to official information, by May 2025 more than 2,590 children had been affected, 630 killed, almost 2,000 wounded and tens of thousands abducted. These are not numbers. They are lost hugs, broken families, shattered childhoods.

It was with this pain that the chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Estonia and head of the Ukrainian Youth Association in Estonia , Volodymyr Palamar, began his speech at the festival “Flowers of Ukraine”:

“Today is a special day.
A day when the world remembers that every child has the right to happiness, safety and a peaceful sky.
And we adults must honestly ask ourselves: are we doing enough to make this right a reality?
Because while we are here in safety, somewhere in the world children wake up not to laughter but to explosions.
These are Ukrainian children whose childhood was stolen by russia.
It is a crime we have no right to forget.”

On 1 June, Tallinn hosted the festival “Flowers of Ukraine” – a celebration of childhood, culture and unity. An event that for more than 20 years has united Ukrainian youth in Estonia and the diaspora from all over the world.

We came together to feel the strength of community.

The strength of art that crosses borders. The strength of children who, despite everything, believe, dream and create. In this way we also marked the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Youth Association, which brings together patriotic young people on a voluntary basis and raises conscious, dedicated Ukrainian patriots whose worldview is shaped by the ideals cherished by the Ukrainian nation over centuries.

Our sincere thanks to everyone who made the festival “Flowers of Ukraine” so strong and bright:

• Bandura ensemble (Alla Inno-Yakymenko, Alina Trinchenko, Anna Inno)
  Artistic director – Alla Inno-Yakymenko
• Choir of pupils of the Ukrainian Sunday school “Nadija”
  Artistic director – Karyna Amirkhanian-Chervinko
• Choreographic ensemble “Kolor”
  Artistic director – Nina Gets
• Vocal studio “Karamel”
  Artistic director – Yana Balakina
• Ukrainian Sunday school “Vodograi”, Sillamäe
  Artistic director – Svitlana Stashkevych
• Choreographic group “Rytm”
  Artistic director – Olena Mukhina
• “Ukrainian song and dance group "Volya"
  Artistic director – Yevhenii Novokhatnii
  Chief choreographer – Anastasiia Kozachok
  Vocal group leader – Kateryna Chalova
• Pupils of the Narva Music School – Mariia Semyshkur and Aryna Yakovleva
  Teacher – Halyna Dotsenko.

Thank you all for your talent, soul and love for Ukraine. Your performances became a voice of hope, beauty and unity!

We thank the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Estonia for supporting the festival and personally First Secretary Inna Bibik for attending.

All photos from the event can be found via this link.