The event is open to everyone and together with citizens, we will transform the streets, squares and the Cathedral steps in the heart of Helsinki into a superb sea of sunflowers to show the world our unwavering support for freedom and peace in Ukraine.
The UNITED FOR UKRAINE – UNITED FOR PEACE event will begin at Kansalaistori at 18.30, from where the march carrying sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower, will proceed along Mannerheimintie and Aleksanterinkatu towards Senate Square. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen, deputy mayors Daniel Sazonov and Johanna Laisaari as well as ambassadors from various countries are among those who will join the march.
According to information emanating from Korvatunturi, also Santa Claus has announced his full-hearted support for Ukraine and that he will be joining the march in a cycle rickshaw.
Once it has reached the Three Smiths Statue, the march will then head towards to Cathedral in silence, letting the flowers and Ukrainian flags speak for themselves.
The march will ultimately reach the upper level of the Cathedral and Senate Square. The programme at Senate Square will start straight after the performance by the large choir of the Round of Choirs. At around 19.30, Baba Lybeck, the host of the event, will open the event. The programme will include speeches by Elina Valtonen, current Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto, former Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Olga Dibrova, Ambassador of Ukraine to Finland. On behalf of the organisers, greetings will be given by Vassili Goutsoul, Chair of the Ukrainian Association in Finland, Susanna Makaroff from Mothersforpeace, Daniel Sazonov, Deputy Mayor of the city of Helsinki, Sari Lindblom, Rector of Helsinki University, Teemu Laajasalo, Bishop of Helsinki, and Juha Rintamäki, Helsinki Parish Union Director. The speech by Mothersforpeace will include a reading by actor Satu Silvo of Eeva Kilpi’s moving poem Äidit huutakaa (Mothers, shout).
The Ukrainian Association in Finland’s impressive Perespiv choir will be responsible for music performances at the event.
The Cathedral bells will also ring out at the event for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
UNITED FOR UKRAINE -UNITED FOR PEACE programme
18.00 Kansalaistori
People joining the march begin to gather at Kansalaistori. From 18.15 onwards, the organisers will hand out sunflowers to those taking part in the procession. Since a limited number of sunflowers is available, the organisers hope that people will also bring their own sunflowers if they can.
18.30
The sunflower march sets off.
The march proceeds from Kansalaistori to Mannerheimintie, from where it will head to Aleksanterinkatu and via Fabianinkatu to Kirkkokatu, from where it reaches the upper level of the Cathedral.
From the upper level of the Cathedral, the march will spread out over the steps of the Cathedral.
Around 19.30 Senate Square
Programme begins at Senate Square.
Speech by Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Speech by Olga Dibrova, Ambassador of Ukraine to Finland.
Speech by Pekka Haavisto, former Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Singing by the Ukrainian Association in Finland’s Perespiv choir.
Greetings from the event organisers:
Vassili Goutsoul, Chair of the Ukrainian Association in Finland.
Daniel Sazonov, Deputy Mayor of the city of Helsinki.
Sari Lindblom, Rector of Helsinki University.
Susanna Makaroff from Mothersforpeace and actor Satu Silvo, who reads Eeva Kilpi’s poem Äidit huutakaa
Teemu Laajasalo, Bishop of Helsinki, and Juha Rintamäki, Helsinki Parish Union Director.
Cathedral bells ring out for 2 minutes for the people of Ukraine.
Ukrainian national anthem. Sung by Sofiia Yakovyshyna.
Around 20.00
Event ends.
UNITED FOR UKRAINE – UNITED FOR PEACE on 24 August 2023 is organised by Helsinki Parish Union, Mothersforpeace and the Ukrainian Association in Finland. The event’s partners are the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki and the Ukrainian Embassy.