Near the graves of the defenders of Ukraine at the Western Cemetery of Odesa, a monument - "Cossack Cross" was opened in honor of the soldiers who gave their lives for the independence and integrity of Ukraine. The opening was timed to the Day of Defenders of Ukraine and the church holiday of the Protection of the Holy Mother of God, the patroness and protector of the Ukrainian army, which is celebrated today.
The event was attended by Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov, First Deputy Head of Odesa Regional State Administration Borys Voloshenkov, First Deputy Head of Odesa Regional Council Oleg Radkovskyi, military personnel and families of fallen soldiers.
Mykola Storozhuk, the head of the Department of the Odesa Region of the Ministry of Veteran Affairs, noted that for the sake of the memory of our Heroes, we must defeat Russia. There is a saying: "Fight - you will win." And we fight and we will fight. We will defeat Moscow. We are a nation of invincibles and the whole world already knows it," Storozhuk said.
In addition to the traditional laying of flowers, military chaplains read a prayer in memory of the fallen.
The Cossack cross is a symbol of Cossacks, Zaporozhians, Ukrainian chivalry and the army. From time immemorial, there has been a tradition of placing Cossack crosses on the burials of those who died for Ukraine.
The "Cossack Cross" monument was built on the initiative of the Department of Family Members of Soldiers Killed in the Russian-Ukrainian War.
