The Ukrainian community in Bulgaria marked Ukraine’s Independence Day

The Ukrainian community in Bulgaria marked Ukraine’s Independence Day. On this occasion, the building of Sofia Municipality was illuminated in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.

''We have been marking this day for the fourth year since the start of the war. It is important to bring together in one place Ukrainian refugees and those who came to Bulgaria before the war, so we can showcase our culture and traditions'', said for BTA Yulianna Kulyukina, head of the Social Integration and Education Center ''Ukrainski Vulik/Ukrainian Hive'', which organized the Ukrainian FEST together with Sofia Municipality.

''Bulgaria is a great example for us of how freedom can be won. You are like brothers to us'', said Natalia Ellis, chairwoman of the Ukraine Support & Renovation Foundation during the celebration in front of Plovdiv Municipality. According to her, about 60,000 refugees live in Bulgaria – 15,000 of them are officially employed, and 40% are children.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov sent a congratulatory address to the Ukrainian people on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day.

Edited by Diana TsankovaPublished and translated by Kostadin Atanasov

Photo: BTA