Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine will soon enter its fourth year. On the third anniversary of the start of the war, we can come together to show that we have not forgotten the pain and suffering of Ukrainians. We invite the people of Helsinki to the Light for Ukraine event at Senate Square on Monday the 24th of February at 6 pm to light a grave candle for the victims of the war in Ukraine.
The programme will include, among other things, performances by Ukrainian choirs and a commemorative speech. The programme will conclude with the Finlandia Hymn. The event will be attended by Finnish state leadership as well as diplomats from around the world.
2,000 candles will be distributed by the organisers from 5.30pm onwards. You can also lay your own grave candle on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral from 3pm onwards. After the event, the candles will be collected by the Ukrainian Association in Finland and sent out to the front in Ukraine, where their wax will be repurposed for energy and light sources.
You can also participate in the event remotely through social media by posting a picture of a candle or a candle emoji. The hashtags for this event are #WeMustNOTForget and #WeStandWithUkraine.
After the official Light for Ukraine event, everyone is welcome to join a multilingual, ecumenical prayer service held at the Helsinki Cathedral from 7pm onwards.
The Light for Ukraine event is organised by the Lutheran Church in Helsinki, Mothersforpeace ry, and the Ukrainian Association in Finland in cooperation with the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Finland and Iceland.
Exhibition: Unissued Diplomas
Unissued Diplomas is an exhibition commemorating the lives and identities of Ukrainian students who lost their lives to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many of these students, who once pursued knowledge and dreams, were forced to put their education on hold to defend their country.
Now in its third year, the exhibition remains as relevant as ever, presenting the stories of 40 Ukrainian students whose diplomas will never be issued. Through their stories, the exhibition serves as a reminder of the ongoing war and the immense cost Ukraine continues to bear.
Organized by active Ukrainian youth in collaboration with the University of Helsinki, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the human impact of war and honor the memory of those who sacrificed everything.
Venue: University of Helsinki, Fabianinkatu 33, 00100 Helsinki
Dates: 24.2.–3.3.2025
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 8:00–20:00, Fri 8:00–18:00, Mon 3.3. 8:00–18:00
Free entry
For more information, contact: Yevheniia Kuznetsova, yevheniia.kuznetsova@helsinki.fi, tel. +358 46 564 2766
Danylo Bolshakov
Danylo Bolshakov was a 22 years old student from Mariupol. He was very kind, sensible, responsible, and easily resolved conflict situations; he had a wonderful sense of humor. He studied Management of foreign economic activity at Mariupol State University.
He devised plans with his girlfriend, and they aimed to live together. Danylo was expected to be promoted at work.
He died rescuing his father and grandmother. He ran to the apartment, but the door was jammed when trying to get in. A Russian missile strike hit the house, causing it to collapse. Danylo was crushed with slabs of concrete, and he could not be retrieved out from under the rubble for a month and a half.