On August 23, an event honoring Ukraine took place at Mestni Trg Square in Ljubljana, bringing together the Ukrainian community and its friends.
Petro Beshta, Ukraine’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Slovenia, addressed the audience with a welcoming speech. In his speech, he emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people, thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine and all the defenders of the state, and called on everyone to honor the memory of the heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine’s freedom.
The event’s participants addressed the audience with two main messages.
The first was a message of gratitude. Speaking on behalf of the “Together” Society, Alla Savchenko addressed the gathering, emphasizing that for four years, Ukrainians had been supported by people who were under no obligation to help but did so consistently and selflessly. During the event, it was announced that the World Congress of Ukrainians’ “Honorary Friend of the Ukrainian People” awards had been approved; they will be presented in person in the near future, and the names of the recipients will be announced later.
The second message was a call to protect the skies over Ukraine. Ambassador Petro Beshta and Yevhen Goreshnyk, president of the Razom Society, spoke about the urgent need for air defense systems. They emphasized that additional air defense systems and interceptors are needed immediately, as every night without adequate protection costs human lives.
Participants also supported the Stríchka organization’s initiative, “Peaceful Skies—A Shared Responsibility.”
The event was accompanied by symbolic gestures: attendees held Ukrainian flags, observed a moment of silence to honor the fallen defenders, and concluded the rally by singing the Ukrainian national anthem and the song “Chervona Kalyna,” which, according to participants, could be heard far beyond the square.
