Ukrainian Independence Day event to fill Helsinki’s Senate Square with song

This Saturday, for the third time, Ukraine will celebrate its independence while simultaneously fighting bravely for its sovereignty in a war of aggression instigated by Russia. As the war wages on and the toll of human suffering increases, our unwavering and visible support for Ukraine grows even more vital.

On Saturday 24 August, people of all ages, together with their families and friends, are invited to join the event at Senate Square in central Helsinki to honour Ukraine's Independence Day. Come support Ukrainian independence in song!

Participants are asked to bring along a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine. They are currently in bloom, and members of the public are allowed to pick them for free from several fields in the capital region. Sunflowers will also be distributed at the Saturday event.

The UNITED FOR UKRAINE event will begin at Helsinki's Senate Square at 13.00. The event will be hosted by Justas Stasevskij, a foreign correspondent of Ukrainian descent who works for the Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle. The event will include musical performances from choirs and soloists in the Finnish and Ukrainian languages.

Participants in the event will be invited to sing along with the Ukrainian folk song Pisnia pro krynytsi (Hiljainen tienoo in Finnish) and the Finlandia Hymn.

13.00-13.30 in Senate Square

• Opening remarks by host Justas Stasevskij
• Greetings from the Finnish Parliament, Speaker of the Finnish Parliament Jussi Halla-aho
• Greetings from the Finnish Government, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Kai Mykkänen
• The Ukrainian National Anthem and the song Oi u luzi tšervona kalyna, performed by the choirs Perspiv and Kalyna and the children's choir Yasni from the Ukrainian Association in Finland
• Pisnia pro krynytsi/Hiljainen tienoo, performed by Sofiia Yakovyshyna and Outi Lehtonen. After the performance, participants will be invited to join in singing three verses of Hiljainen tienoo in Finnish
• Greetings to Finland's residents and Ukrainians fleeing the war, Ukrainian Ambassador to Finland Olga Dibrova
• Finlandia Hymn, performed by the Cantores Minores choir
• Thank you message from the organisers, Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen
• The event will conclude with a joint rendition of the Finlandia Hymn, followed by a ringing of the church bells in the Helsinki Cathedral.

The event is being organised by the Lutheran Church in Helsinki, Mothersforpeace ry, and the Ukrainian Association in Finland, in cooperation with the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki, the Finnish Government, and the Embassy of Ukraine.