Warm gatherings, heartfelt words, music, and creativity brought together residents of Bakhmut and Hostomel at the celebration of the Hero City of Hostomel. The event took place on October 14 in a cozy, truly family-like atmosphere, where the support and closeness between the two communities were particularly evident.
The Bakhmut community joined the celebration as part of the national project “Side by Side: United Communities.”
Serhiy Rodin, Deputy Mayor of Bakhmut, addressed the residents of Hostomel with words of greeting. He thanked the community for its partnership, expressed respect for the resilience of its residents, wished them peace and recovery, and conveyed a message of congratulations from the Bakhmut City Military Administration.
Performances by artists from Bakhmut provided musical entertainment. Zakhar Pshonka, a student at the Bakhmut City Territorial Community School of Arts, performed the song “My Ukraine,” and Yulia Idzhilova, a soloist at the Bakhmut City People’s House, sang “Mother’s Prayer.” Their performances added warmth to the gathering and moved those in attendance.
A highlight of the celebration was a joint exhibition of motanka dolls, organized by the Culture Department of the Bakhmut City Council and the Bakhmut City People’s House in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Youth, and Sports of the Gostomel Town Council.
The original collection by Bakhmut artisan Olena Golubtsova, titled “Where Destinies Are Woven,” was displayed alongside works by artisans from the Gostomel community. Brought together in a single exhibition, the dolls told stories of family memories, Ukrainian traditions, and the bond between generations.
For the Bakhmut community, such gatherings hold special significance: the artwork created during evacuation helps preserve its local identity and share the culture of their homeland with residents of other cities. And the joint exhibition became yet another manifestation of their side-by-side partnership.
After the program concluded, representatives of both communities laid flowers at the Alley of Remembrance and honored the defenders who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom.
The Bakhmut community thanks the Gostomel community for its hospitality, warm welcome, and friendship.
Based on materials from the Bakhmut City Council