Symbols matter, especially when someone is trying to wipe your home off the map. On February 19, we celebrate the day of Ukraine's small coat of arms — the Trident, in which each of us can clearly read the word "Freedom."
This year, this date became another reason to unite: young people from the Bakhmut community, now scattered throughout the country and beyond, actively joined the themed photo challenge "The Trident — a symbol of our unity."
The event took place as part of the "Side by Side: United Communities" project. The initiative was launched by the Kremenchuk community, which invited young people to creatively rethink the meaning of our national emblem.
Despite the fact that Bakhmut students and pupils are now separated from their hometown, distance did not stand in their way. For ten days, the young men and women shared photos in which the trident was the central element of the composition. For each of them, it became something personal: some held it close to their hearts, others recreated it in drawings or installations.
Our coat of arms is a genetic code that has withstood centuries of prohibitions and struggles. Today, it adorns the chevrons of defenders on the front lines and serves as a talisman for everyone who believes in returning home. By participating in this challenge, the people of Bakhmut proved that they remember their roots and maintain a strong connection with their homeland through shared values.
The trident is a symbol of our unity.
Together we are invincible!
Based on materials from the Bakhmut City Council
