Remembrance Day of Ukraine's Defenders

On August 29, Ukrainians bow their heads in mourning for those who gave their lives in the fight for Ukraine's independence.

Today is a special day of remembrance, honor, and gratitude. This Day of Remembrance was established in 2019. The date, August 29, was not chosen by chance — on this day in 2014, the Ilovaisk tragedy occurred. Ukrainian troops were supposed to leave the encirclement through a green corridor promised by the occupiers. However, there was no corridor — columns of Ukrainian soldiers were shot. According to official data, 366 defenders were killed, and 429 were wounded in this tragedy.

The full-scale war has become a new chapter of heroism, courage, and bravery of Ukrainian defenders. And, unfortunately, a new chapter of grief and painful losses.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many members of the Karazin University community have given their lives for Ukraine. Currently, the university is aware of 56 fallen defenders. Their names have been added to the "Memorial of Remembrance," located on the second floor of the main building of Karazin University. There is also a virtual memorial on the university website, where you can see the faces of the heroes and learn their stories.

It is important that the memory of the fallen defenders continues to live and is forever engraved in history. Last year, the university opened a lecture hall named after Yehor Shumayev, a student of the School of Geology, Geography, Recreation, and Tourism, and a volunteer. On December 14, 2022, Yehor died from a severe wound received during a combat mission.

In addition, 4 new streets/alleys in Kharkiv have been named in honor of the fallen members of the Karazin community:

• Oleksandr Chaban Street — named after a graduate of the School of Sociology who died in battle near the village of Hrushivka in the Kharkiv region on July 20, 2022.
• Myroslav Mysla Street — named after a graduate of the School of History, a serviceman, and a volunteer of the "Carpathian Sich" separate battalion, who died during the anti-terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine on October 2, 2016.
• Yevhen Khrapko Street — named after a combat medic, tactical medicine instructor, and employee of the Karazin University Simulation Center, who died on June 11, 2022, in the Kharkiv region while evacuating wounded soldiers.
• Dmytro Shapoval Lane — named after a graduate of the School of History, who died on July 19, 2022, in the Kherson region, fulfilling his military duty in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Eternal memory and glory to Ukrainian heroes! Karazin University sincerely sympathizes with the families of all the fallen defenders. Let us forever honor and remember those who paid the highest price for our freedom!