As tradition before the Constitution Day, Zaporizhzhia held solemn events. This year, it was decided to celebrate this day in a new format ‒ by honouring the memory of the Defenders who died protecting independence and territorial integrity of our country.

Zaporizhzhia residents gathered next to a new "Tree of Memory" memorial, installed in honour of the fallen Heroes of Ukraine.

It is worth noting that the "Tree of Memory" memorial was opened in Metallurgists' Park in October 2024, as part of the "GOGOLFEST POKROVE" international festival of modern art with support from Metinvest. Instead of conventional leaves, the steel "branches" of the tree have pipe bells. They create a bell-ringing melody and symbolise the echo of the fallen Heroes' voices. The tree is a symbol of the struggle and resilience of Ukrainians in their desire for freedom.

On the occasion of the Constitution Day, 80 families of the fallen Heroes were invited. The event also brought together the Deputy Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration Mykhailo Semikin, Head of Zaporizhzhia Regional Council Olena Zhuk, Deputy City Head Serhii Bilov, representatives of regional and city government, district state administrations, the army, police, the State Emergency Service, and the church. Representatives of the "Baida" youth organisation also joined the event.

Actors presented the participants with a touching theatrical performance, depicting the fate of women who had been waiting for their men to return from war, but the men did not return. The actors also gathered bells from the families of fallen Heroes, and placed them on special modules. Each of the 80 invited families received two steel bells. One will be hanging on the tree, and another will remain with the relatives.

A speaker read out the names of fallen soldiers, in memory of whom these bells will be. After that, the modules with bells were fixed and lifted to the "Tree of Memory."

Among those names is Yurii Olifir. His wife Anna told us that her husband worked at Zaporizhstal, and volunteered to defend the country from the first days of war. He fought in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk sectors.

"My husband did not wait for a military summon letter. He told me that he was going to protect us. Before each of his combat operations, he called me to calm me down. He said that he was going 'on shift': "Do not worry, I will call you immediately when I come back," recalls Anna OLIFIR.

Yurii Olifir died in Bakhmut in 2022. His family is sure that it is extremely important to remember those who gave their lives for the country's freedom and independence.

"This is valuable and important to remember people who died defending our Motherland. I am not the only one who thinks so," said Anna Olifir.

Tetiana STEPANIUK, the wife of a fallen Hero, thinks in the same way, and now a bell with her husband's name will be placed on the "Tree of Memory":

"For us as the family of the fallen defender this is very important and valuable, because we are doing our best for people to remember our boys and the price of our peaceful life and Independence.

Tetiana's husband Serhii Stepaniuk had been defending the country since 2014. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he again joined the army.

"I will go there so that they do not come here, because my family is here," were his words at that time. He had been saying so since 2014 too. Serhii worked at Zaporizhstal. He fought as part of the 55th artillery brigade "Zaporizhzhia Sich."

He died in 2022. He was a real warrior, who could not stay aside. Tetiana Stepaniuk said so with tears: "I know that he would do the same, it was his choice."

Eleonora MOVCHANIUK's husband Oleksandr went to the front at the age of 58. He served in the infantry and defended the Donetsk region. Installing a bell on the "Tree of Memory" is an occasion his family was waiting for.

"This place is so memorable, where you can hear voices and bell rings as if they are the voices of our boys, our defenders.

My husband said who if not he should protect the country, friends, and the Motherland...

Thank you, such events are very important. We will come here again."

The participants honoured the memory of fallen Heroes with a minute of silence, and put flowers next to the "Tree of Memory" as a symbol of respect.