August 29 is the day when we honor the memory of Ukraine's fallen defenders and the events that took place near Ilovaisk. The sunflower has become a symbol of mourning for the dead and a flower of courage, because the sunflower fields were the road for the green corridor that turned red with the blood of our soldiers. It is a flower that carries pain, resilience, and gratitude.
The Donetsk Regional Art Museum held an art therapy event called “Sunflower of Memory” at a military hospital in Dnipro. Together with military personnel, they created compositions from sunflowers — each work became a symbol of personal experiences, memories of comrades who are no longer with us, and faith in victory and life. Painting became a process of sincere dialogue with oneself, a way to experience emotions that cannot always be expressed in words.
The artistic space created in the place of recovery allowed the military to feel the support and strength of community. The colors and shapes of the sunflowers brought to life the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for the freedom of Ukraine. This joint creation became a gesture of gratitude, respect, and hope for the future.
We bow our heads to all those who died for our country. Their courage and sacrifice live on in every sunflower and in each of our hearts. We thank everyone who is defending Ukraine today.