The Light for Ukraine event starts on Senate Square at 17.00. This year’s event focuses on Ukrainian children and their families, who have been deeply affected by the conflict. Throughout the war, the City of Helsinki has supported the children and youth of our Ukrainian partner city Dnipro, for instance, by organising summer camps for them in Finland and donating musical instruments to children who have lost their loved ones in the fighting.
The programme will include performances from a Ukrainian choir as well as greetings from the Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov and Ukraine's Ambassador to Finland Mykhailo Vydoinyk. Finnish state leadership and diplomats from around the world will also attend. The event will end with a rendition of the Finlandia hymn, as sung by a Tapiola Choir ensemble.
“Russia's large-scale war of aggression in Ukraine has continued for four years now. That’s four years too many of harrowing attacks on a sovereign state and the Ukrainian people’s needless suffering. Helsinki will continue our unwavering support for Ukraine. This support will continue this spring in concrete form, when we will once again donate needed vehicles and supplies to Ukraine,” said Mayor Sazonov.
Starting at 16.30, 2,000 candles will be distributed by the organisers for public use. You can also place a candle of your own on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral from 15.00 onwards. After the event, the candles will be collected by the Ukrainian Association in Finland and sent to the front in Ukraine, where their wax will be repurposed as a source of energy and light.
From 23 to 25 February, Senate Square and the buildings surrounding it will be illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag as a tribute to the victims of the war.
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.
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.
Light for Ukraine programme
17.00: Opening words by host.
- Performance by a Ukrainian choir
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Guests of honour, event organisers and members of the diplomatic corps place their candles on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral
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Lutheran Bishop of Helsinki Teemu Laajasalo invites the public to observe a minute of silence for victims of the war
- The Helsinki Cathedral bells will ring
- Performance by a Ukrainian choir
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Address from Finland’s national leadership, presented by Mari-Leena Talvitie, Minister of Science and Culture
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Greetings by Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki, and Mykhailo Vydoinyk, Ukraine's Ambassador to Finland
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A Tapiola Choir ensemble performs the Finlandia hymn
17.30 pm: End of programme. The public is welcome to place their own candles on the stairs of the Helsinki Cathedral at any time after 15.00.
