We were honored by the presence of Denmark’s Minister of Finance, Nicolai Wammen, whose powerful opening remarks reinforced Denmark’s steadfast support for Ukraine. He highlighted Denmark’s significant military aid, including tanks, artillery, air defense systems, and F-16 jets, as well as the newly announced 2 billion DKK investment in Ukrainian and European security. Nicolai Wammen emphasized:
“Denmark has been with you from the beginning, and we will remain by your side, no matter how long it takes, no matter how tough it will be. Your struggle is the struggle of all of Europe—democracy against force and evil. We refuse to turn away. This is not charity; this is solidarity. Your struggle continues, and so does our commitment. We will keep sending aid. We will keep speaking up. We will keep fighting for your freedom. To you, the people of Ukraine, Denmark stands with you. And let me also be very clear. When the time comes for peace negotiations, Ukraine must have a seat at the table. It is your country. It is your future. Your voices must be heard. Your sacrifices must be recognized. Your future must be secured.”
The evening was opened by Nataliia Popovych, co-founder of Ukraine House and a tireless advocate for Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy. In her speech, she reflected on the significance of the event and the resilience of Ukrainians:
“Tonight, we gather not only to remember but to assert that our voices, our stories, and our culture remain unbreakable. Every poem read, every song sung, and every testimony shared is an act of defiance against those who seek to erase us. Ukraine’s spirit will not be subdued. We are here, and we will endure.“
Ambassadors from Argentina, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Slovenia, Sweden, and representatives from the EU, Switzerland, and the USA stood alongside us, demonstrating unwavering international solidarity.
Ukrainian soldiers shared their poetry from the frontlines, bringing raw and deeply personal reflections of war. Among them was Yaryna Chornohuz, a renowned Ukrainian poet, translator, Shevchenko Prize laureate, civic activist, and servicewoman of the Marine Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Alongside her, Artur Dron, one of the youngest Shevchenko Prize candidates and a prominent Ukrainian poet, joined us virtually while recovering from his wounds. The author of the collection “We Were Here,” Dron’s poetry is profoundly shaped by his experiences on the brutal frontlines. Their verses, charged with emotion and resilience, were read in Danish by distinguished Danish military veterans, Brigadier Generals (R) Lone Træholt and Hans Christian Enevold. Lone Træholt, Denmark’s first female general, and Hans Christian Enevold, a highly experienced officer in command and control, brought their own depth of understanding to these readings, bridging the voices of soldiers across borders.
Ukrainian human rights activist and former POW Maksym Butkevych shared his harrowing testimony of two years in Russian captivity, warning the world of the lessons to be learned. In his remarks, he mentioned:
“So I really would like to know that more people in other countries understand that this is not a Russian-Ukrainian story. This is a story of all free people who defend fundamental values, without which we cannot defend our freedom, our life, and our ability to make choices towards society where we can live freely in solidarity and without fear. I really hope we’ll achieve that. But in order to do that, the empire should fall. And it will fall. I’m sure about it. We’ll help it.”
The evening’s musical performances were extraordinary, with Roman Grygoriv transforming a repurposed Russian URAGAN missile into an instrument of art and remembrance. Sofia Pavlichenko’s evocative vocals in “The Song of the Unborn” transported us into the collective sorrow and hope of Ukraine. The performance included Elisabeth Holmegaard Nielsen, Danish-Ukrainian pianist. Kyiv Kamerata, featuring its leading soloist Bogdana Pivnenko bridged Ukraine’s classical and contemporary music, culminating in a profound rendition of Ihor Shevchenko’s “We are”—a powerful testament to Ukrainian resilience.
Our event was enriched by the Odesa City Letters exhibition, which showcased over 50 poetry posters and 20 large-scale textile prints, bringing generations of Ukrainian literary voices into the heart of our commemoration. The exhibition space resonated deeply with our attendees—so much so that nearly all posters brought from Odesa found new homes with those who wished to support Hospitallers and our shared cause.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our partners, without whom this gathering would not have been possible: Kulturministeriet, Open Society Foundations, Politiken Fonden, the Embassy of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Denmark, the Ukrainian Institute, PEN Ukraine, Wisti Foundation, and all our dedicated supporters. Special thanks to Tatiana Nielsen / Nielsen Saloner for supporting our musical interventions within this anniversary commemoration.
A personal thank you to the remarkable team behind Ukraine House and everyone who worked tirelessly to make this event possible.
We remain committed to keeping Ukrainian culture and voices alive in the face of aggression. As was beautifully expressed through the music of “We are”:
We have been. We are. And we will be.
Source: Via Ritzau
