08/26/2026
💛💙 A POWERFUL CELEBRATION OF UKRAINE’S 35TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY IN THE HEART OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
On Saturday, August 22, the steps of the Lincoln Memorial were filled with Ukrainian flags, voices, music, culture, and an unwavering spirit of freedom as we gathered for “D.C. Celebrates Ukraine’s Independence Day,” organized by US Ukrainian Activists (USUA).
💛💙 Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us at the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate Ukraine’s Independence Day and stand with Ukraine! 🇺🇦
For the fifth consecutive year, this special tradition brought our community, friends of Ukraine, diplomats, veterans, artists, musicians, dancers, and supporters together in the heart of the U.S. capital to honor Ukraine’s independence and stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
As Nadiya Shaporynska, founder, producer, and organizer of the event since 2022 and President of US Ukrainian Activists (USUA), shared in her remarks at the event:
“Ukraine marks 35 years since the restoration of its independence in 1991. But Ukraine’s history did not begin 35 years ago.
Ukraine is an ancient European nation with more than a thousand years of history, reaching back to the medieval state of Kyivan Rus and continuing through centuries of Ukrainian statehood, culture, language, and the enduring struggle for freedom.
For Ukrainians, independence is not simply a date on the calendar. It is our identity. It is our freedom. It is our right to determine our own future.”
“Ukraine was. Ukraine is. And Ukraine will be,” Shaporynska emphasized in her opening remarks and once again at the very conclusion of the event. 🇺🇦
Today, as Ukraine continues to defend its freedom and sovereignty against Russia’s brutal genocidal war, we honor the extraordinary courage of Ukraine’s defenders and remember those who have given their lives for Ukraine. We remember the innocent lives taken by Russia’s aggression, and we stand with all those who continue to fight, serve, volunteer, heal, rebuild, and protect Ukraine every day.
🙏 PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
As we gathered to celebrate Ukraine’s independence, we also paused to honor and remember all those whose lives have been taken by Russia’s war against Ukraine — our brave defenders who made the ultimate sacrifice for Ukraine’s freedom and the innocent Ukrainian men, women, and children who have been killed since 2014.
🇺🇦 Our heartfelt gratitude to Father Robert of the Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family for leading us in prayer for Ukraine, our defenders, and the Ukrainian people, and in remembrance of all the victims of Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine.
🎤 OFFICIAL PROGRAM
Our celebration began with an official ceremony on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, bringing together distinguished diplomatic, veteran, and community voices.
We are deeply grateful to our distinguished speakers for their powerful and heartfelt remarks in support of Ukraine: Denys Sienik, Chargé d’Affaires, a.i., Embassy of Ukraine in the United States; Inga Bowden, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Estonia in the United States / Estonian Embassy in Washington; Andriy Smolensky, Ukrainian veteran and Commander of the Aerial Reconnaissance Unit, 47th Brigade “Mahura”; Diana Vidutis, Member of the Public Affairs Committee, Lithuanian American Community of the United States; and Yaroslav Martynyuk, Ukrainian American Veterans.
💛💙 Their words reflected the meaning of Ukraine’s independence, the courage and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine’s defenders, and the importance of continued international solidarity and support for Ukraine.
🇺🇦 A GIANT UKRAINIAN FLAG & MARCH AT THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL
Following the official program came one of the most moving moments of the evening.
Together, we unfurled our giant 10 × 14-meter (33 × 46-foot) Ukrainian flag at the Lincoln Memorial. This special flag was made in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and brought from Ukraine to the United States for our 2024 event, “D.C. Celebrates Ukraine’s Independence Day.” We have proudly unfurled it during each of our three annual celebrations in Washington, D.C., since then. During the first two years of the event, our Independence Day marches filled the streets of Washington, D.C., with Ukrainian flags of all sizes, before the giant Ukrainian flag became part of this annual tradition.
Dozens of people joined together beneath the yellow and blue — a powerful symbol of a nation that refuses to surrender its freedom, its identity, or its future.
We then held a short march across the Lincoln Memorial Plaza with our giant Ukrainian flag. Together, we sang the Ukrainian National Anthem and proudly carried our messages of Ukraine’s independence, victory, and the continued need for strong international support for Ukraine.
As in previous years, our march carried powerful messages of solidarity, resilience, and hope: “Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!”, “Ukraine Will Win!”, and “Слава Україні! Героям слава!” (“Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!”).
This year, we also carried two important messages: “Patriot Systems for Ukraine” and “Stand with Ukraine.”
🇺🇦 Together, our voices, our messages, and our giant Ukrainian flag proudly celebrated Ukraine in one of the most symbolic places in America — a place inseparably connected with freedom, equality, and democracy.
🎶 💛💙 CELEBRATING UKRAINIAN CULTURE
The evening continued with a beautiful concert celebrating the richness of Ukrainian music, dance, heritage, and traditions.
Our program brought together incredible Ukrainian performers of different generations — from children’s voices to accomplished musicians and dancers — including VODA Voice, Children’s Vocal Ensemble “Rodyna” (from the Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Studies/ Ukrainian School DC - Школа Українознавста), the “Sribni Dzherela” Ensemble, Olga and Diana Perepelytsya / Ольга Перепелиця, Liliia Koreba, Gleb Latnik, Alina Stovbun, and the SLAVA School of Ukrainian Music and Dance.
From “Рідна Земля” (“Homeland”), “Козаки” (“Cossacks”), and the vibrant “Танець Купала” (“Kupala Dance”) to beloved Ukrainian songs including “Моя Україна” (“My Ukraine”), “Чорнобривці” (“Marigolds”), and “Ой у лузі червона калина” (“Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow”), Ukrainian culture came alive at the Lincoln Memorial.
“Culture is part of what Ukraine is fighting to preserve. Every Ukrainian song, every dance, every word of our language, and every tradition passed from one generation to another carries the story of a nation that has survived centuries of attempts to erase its identity — and continues to stand proudly today.”
— Nadiya Shaporynska, President, US Ukrainian Activists (USUA)
💛💙 THANK YOU
Our deepest gratitude goes to our distinguished speakers, performers, musicians, dancers, volunteers, photographers, and all participants who joined us at the event!
Thank you to everyone who held our giant flag, marched with us, sang with us, volunteered behind the scenes, and came to stand with Ukraine.
This annual Independence Day celebration was founded in 2022 by Nadiya Shaporynska, President of US Ukrainian Activists (USUA), and has been produced and organized by her and USUA every year since — bringing Ukraine’s yellow and blue to the heart of Washington, D.C.
We will continue to gather.
We will continue to speak for Ukraine.
We will continue to preserve and celebrate Ukrainian culture.
And we will continue to stand with Ukraine — every day — in Ukraine’s fight for freedom, sovereignty, and a just and lasting peace, and for generations to come.
💛💙 З Днем Незалежності, Україно!
Happy Independence Day, Ukraine!
🇺🇦 Слава Україні! Героям слава!
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!
📷 USUA Photo Album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/edit/a.1469628441869205
Photo credits throughout the album:
US Ukrainian Activists (USUA), Ganna Proskura, Nadiya Shaporynska, Valentin Ashworth, & Patrick Cribben
