One week ago, on Thursday morning, Ukrainians were woken up by raging explosions – Russia launched military action against an independent, peaceful and democratic state. For a week now, part of the Ukrainians has been living in horror, hiding in the basements from bombs exploding around them, when their compatriots – brothers, sisters, sons, daughters – have joined forces, fighting tirelessly not only for their own but also for one of our greatest values – freedom.

The whole world has united to help the Ukrainians who are fighting, fleeing the war and who haven’t managed to do so. Through Lithuania, campaigns associated with supporting Ukraine are encouraging Lithuanians to forget about everyday work, their own worries and to constantly look for new ways and opportunities to help a country experiencing the horrors of war.

Condemning Russia’s aggression against a democratic and sovereign state and its peaceful people, and in order to show solidarity with Ukraine and its citizens, who are going through a particularly difficult period, today at 10 a. m., in the historical place of Kaunas – on the Owls Hill – the flag of Ukraine was raised, the dimensions of which reach 8 and 5 meters.

The hoisting of the Ukrainian flag in one of the highest places in Kaunas was initiated by Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, which owns the Faculty of Arts and Education located here. A large group of members of the university community gathered for the flag-raising ceremony, expressing support for Ukraine, which defends the freedom of its own and all of us. Representatives of Kaunas Deputies Club, Žaliakalnis community and the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union also contributed to the initiative.

Paulius Baltrušaitis, the director of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, reveals that the university was not left out in the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and took action.

“We condemn Russia’s aggression against a peaceful and sovereign state. In view of Russia’s horrific military action against the civilians, on the 25^th of February we have suspended cooperation with the institutions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, we no longer carry out cooperation or project activities, we do not accept representatives of these countries in Lithuania.

We have also drawn up a plan and have already taken the first steps helping for Ukrainians fleeing the war: students, teachers, other members of the academic community.

In order to show solidarity with the Ukrainians who defend the fundamental value – freedom – we decided to raise the Ukrainian flag as a sign of solidarity with our brothers and sisters in one of the highest places in Kaunas. No one has the right to be deprived of their liberty, to take military action against a peaceful state and its citizens, and the Ukrainian flag raised on the Owls Hill, which will be visible from many places in Kaunas, has become another sign expressing not only our organization but also Kaunas, as well as the whole Lithuania support for Ukraine”, says P. Baltrušaitis, Director of Kaunas University of Applied Sciences.

Photos by Mantas Zinkevičius.