1000 days of Russian attack on Ukraine completed, this tourist place of capital Kiev becomes center of tribute

Kyiv: 1000 days have passed since the Russian attack on Ukraine. The lush green lawn in the heart of the Ukrainian capital before Russia's invasion has now been turned into a makeshift memorial. Before that, tourists used to come to this place located in the center of the capital Kiev to take photographs and roam around on weekends.

Now a makeshift memorial, the site is decorated with blue and yellow flags paying respect to each soldier who died fighting the Russians. Many of those killed were volunteers who left behind their lives as civilians to defend their country.

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Many have left behind families who are expected to ensure that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Families put up small flags. On which the names and dates of death of their loved ones are written. Over time, the number of flags that flutter in the wind increases as the seasons change and the war lasts longer.

Svitlana Kirichenko, who had hoisted the flag a year ago in memory of her son who was killed during one such conflict, has now traveled from Cherkasy to change the flag. He said that I planted the flag here so that if anyone passes by here, he can see that this person once lived for us and sacrificed his life.

Documents obtained by the Associated Press show that the first flag appeared on the lawn in the month of May in the first year of the war. The capital was not in danger of being captured shortly after Russian troops withdrew from the Kiev area. Photographs from that time show dozens of flags arranged in rows on a grassy field. As the war continued, the location changed.

The grass faded away, giving way to what looked like a cemetery, covered with thousands of flags. Some relatives have also put up photographs of their martyred relatives in which they are seen smiling in army uniform. Svitlana Kanevska, wearing a black hood to protect from the drizzling rain, leans on a portrait of her boyfriend Serhiy Ivanitsky, who died a few months ago in eastern Ukraine.

Fresh and dry flowers are scattered at this place. The city authorities have no control over this monument. It was created by the people themselves, who gave the lawn the shape of a memorial with the inspiration of paying tribute to their martyred loved ones in the absence of any official government memorial.

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Soldiers and families come and sit here for a long time. New flags are installed here almost every day. Nearby, funerals take place almost every day, followed by a moment of silence. Passersby stop, kneel and look at the place with reverence for a few moments. With all this, life is going on at its own pace in the capital Kyiv.