The celebration of the 31st anniversary of the restoration of Independence of Ukraine took place against the background of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. Due to the threat of missile strikes, all mass events were canceled. Instead, destroyed Russian military equipment was displayed in the center of Kyiv on Khreshchatyk. Photographer Yevhen Malolietka filmed a “parade” of rusty Russian tanks and battered combat vehicles.
Independence Day of Ukraine was celebrated every year with a military parade in Kiev and a fireworks display. In 2022, the date of August 24 also marked half a year since the beginning of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. Independence Day was declared a working day. Due to the danger of massive missile strikes, all measures involving crowds of people were canceled. Kyiv residents and guests of the capital were urged not to ignore the air alarm and go down to the nearest shelter or to the subway.
In gratitude to the Ukrainian military who defend Ukraine, the flags of the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were flown over the capital on drones. The column was headed by the flag of Ukraine measuring more than 200 square meters. Instead of the traditional parade, broken Russian equipment was exhibited on Khreshchatyk. People were able to look at the destroyed Russian tanks, as well as leave inscriptions on the rusty surfaces of the destroyed Russian army combat vehicles.
“I am proud to be part of the nation of free people of independent Ukraine,” photographer Yevhen Maloletka wrote on social networks. “This year's military parade on Independence Square is significantly different from the parade of previous years. The center of Kiev smells of war. Melted and torn to pieces, the metal makes it clear that war is near.”
He added that the whole country in embroidered shirts and with national flags passed through Khreshchatyk patriotically to the sound of sirens. However, all this did not cancel the plans of the Russian Federation to use missiles against Ukrainians.
“Every day we read reports and we think with excitement about our relatives, friends and colleagues, we hope for the end of the war,” said Yevhen Maloletka.
Instead, during August 24, 2022, the Russian army shelled nearly 60 settlements in Ukraine, and the air alarm sounded a record 189 times. Russian troops shelled the Chaplyne railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing at least 25 people, including two children.
Photographer Yevhen Maloletka — Ukrainian photojournalist, who gained wide popularity with a photo report on the blockade of Mariupol during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
The 2022 recipient of the James Knight International Journalism Awards from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Pulitzer Prize (2023) in the nomination for service to society (Eng. Pulitzer Prize for Public Service), winner of the 2023 World Press Photo of the Year.
Social networks: Facebook, Instagram
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Kateryna Moskalyuk
Bild-editor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
Read also: Figure in the snow. Dismantling of the monument to Shchors on the photos of Evgeny Zavgorodny
The project is implemented thanks to support of ZMIN.
The celebration of the 31st anniversary of the restoration of Independence of Ukraine took place against the background of a full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. Due to the threat of missile strikes, all mass events were canceled. Instead, destroyed Russian military equipment was displayed in the center of Kyiv on Khreshchatyk. Photographer Yevhen Malolietka filmed a “parade” of rusty Russian tanks and battered combat vehicles.
Independence Day of Ukraine was celebrated every year with a military parade in Kiev and a fireworks display. In 2022, the date of August 24 also marked half a year since the beginning of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. Independence Day was declared a working day. Due to the danger of massive missile strikes, all measures involving crowds of people were canceled. Kyiv residents and guests of the capital were urged not to ignore the air alarm and go down to the nearest shelter or to the subway.
In gratitude to the Ukrainian military who defend Ukraine, the flags of the brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were flown over the capital on drones. The column was headed by the flag of Ukraine measuring more than 200 square meters. Instead of the traditional parade, broken Russian equipment was exhibited on Khreshchatyk. People were able to look at the destroyed Russian tanks, as well as leave inscriptions on the rusty surfaces of the destroyed Russian army combat vehicles.
“I am proud to be part of the nation of free people of independent Ukraine,” photographer Yevhen Maloletka wrote on social networks. “This year's military parade on Independence Square is significantly different from the parade of previous years. The center of Kiev smells of war. Melted and torn to pieces, the metal makes it clear that war is near.”
He added that the whole country in embroidered shirts and with national flags passed through Khreshchatyk patriotically to the sound of sirens. However, all this did not cancel the plans of the Russian Federation to use missiles against Ukrainians.
“Every day we read reports and we think with excitement about our relatives, friends and colleagues, we hope for the end of the war,” said Yevhen Maloletka.
Instead, during August 24, 2022, the Russian army shelled nearly 60 settlements in Ukraine, and the air alarm sounded a record 189 times. Russian troops shelled the Chaplyne railway station in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing at least 25 people, including two children.
Photographer Yevhen Maloletka — Ukrainian photojournalist, who gained wide popularity with a photo report on the blockade of Mariupol during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.
The 2022 recipient of the James Knight International Journalism Awards from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and the Pulitzer Prize (2023) in the nomination for service to society (Eng. Pulitzer Prize for Public Service), winner of the 2023 World Press Photo of the Year.
Social networks: Facebook, Instagram
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Kateryna Moskalyuk
Bild-editor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
Read also: Figure in the snow. Dismantling of the monument to Shchors on the photos of Evgeny Zavgorodny
The project is implemented thanks to support of ZMIN.
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
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