At Save Ukraine, we have a wonderful tradition of giving the children we rescue from Russian occupation a Ukrainian flag 🇺🇦. Everyone who leaves the occupied territories and sees the Ukrainian flag at the border for the first time cannot hold back tears.

Why? Because for us in Ukraine, our flag is, first of all, a symbol of our sovereign statehood. We proudly display it on our homes and cars during holidays. And we carry it in the streets on significant dates. But for those who ended up in occupied territories, openly displaying the flag could be extremely dangerous. So, the moment when people see the blue-and-yellow flag after the occupation for the first time becomes something special — a moment of liberation, of true freedom.

💙 “We wrapped our blue-and-yellow flag in a jar and buried it under a tree in our native Melitopil.”
💛 “My flag is my freedom.”
💙 The flag was like a window into a free Ukraine.”
💛 “We cried with joy when we finally saw our Ukrainian flag at the border.”

These are the words of the Ukrainians we saved. Everyone who leaves the occupied territories and sees the Ukrainian flag at the border for the first time cannot hold back tears. These are tears of pain for what they’ve endured, tears for the loss of their home. But at the same time, they are tears of joy, pride, and immense gratitude. For these people, the blue-and-yellow flag is a symbol of freedom, victory, and the return to a life without fear.

And today we must cherish our national flag, which unites all of us in the name of the unbreakable and unconquerable Ukrainian spirit!