Ukraine marks Independence Day with music

This year Ukrainian Independence Day, which falls every year on 24 August, will be marked with massive musical celebrations, in addition to the usual military parades.

Two major Ukrainian television networks, 1+1 and Inter, will host concerts tonight in honour of the occasion.

“You are independence!” will be hosted by 1+1 at the Pechersk Fortress in Kiev. The concert will feature national stars such as Tina Karol, Skryabin and Druha Rika. Along with the music, the event will take the audience through Ukrainian history, and present the stories of local heroes throughout the country.

Inter’s concert, “Dream of Ukraine” will see current stars, including Sofia Rotaru and Iryna Bilyk, sing old favourites in a new contemporary interpretation. The work of Maria Pryimachenko, a renowned Ukrainian folk art painter who died in 2007, will be revived as part of the concert’s staging. Over 4,000 people will be in attendance, including Ukrainian Olympic athletes and war veterans.

Ukraine also marked the Day of the National Flag yesterday, with an exhibition of flags from Euromaidan and eastern Ukraine displayed in central Kiev among events in honour of the event.