Ukraine Marks Flag Day as Russian Advances Threaten Eastern Villages

Ukraine celebrated its National Flag Day with ceremonies attended by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who highlighted the flag as a symbol of hope and deliverance for those freed from Russian captivity and for Ukrainians living under occupation. The blue-and-yellow flag has deep historical roots dating back to medieval heraldry and has symbolized Ukrainian statehood through various periods, including during the early 20th-century national liberation struggles and after the 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. Despite ongoing Russian advances in eastern Ukraine, including reports of contested control over villages near Kostyantynivka, Ukrainians continue to assert their national identity, with activists raising Ukrainian flags in occupied cities such as Simferopol and parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions. President Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's resolve not to cede any territory to occupiers during the flag day events. The celebration precedes Ukraine’s Independence Day, marking 34 years since Soviet Union dissolution and three and a half years since Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukrainian forces face challenging military situations, but the national flag remains a powerful emblem of resilience and unity for the country.