KYIV, Ukraine — Oleksander Tryfonov, a 45-year-old driver, paused on his way to the Kyiv train station to greet his long-awaited wife and daughter returning from Poland. Amidst the dimly lit underpass, he purchased two red roses, a gesture of love and longing.
“It’s been two years since I last saw them,” Tryfonov said, his voice reflecting the weight of separation. “Flowers are important for women.”
In Ukraine, flowers have always held cultural significance, but since Russia’s invasion in 2022, their symbolism has deepened, becoming emblematic of both resistance and hope.
Despite the challenges imposed by war, Ukrainians seize every opportunity to adorn Kyiv and other cities with flowers sourced from the nation’s vast rural heartlands, aiming to reconnect with their roots and revive their spirits.
Petunias and rock roses in vibrant hues grace Kyiv’s streets, adorning lampposts and even prison yards. They appear on everything from banknotes to murals, alongside military recruitment posters and everyday life.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s gesture of bringing flowers to a teenage girl injured by advancing Russian forces exemplified the nation’s sentiment in 2022.
At a flower stall beneath Kyiv’s Maidan Square, Olha Semynog sells bouquets starting at $2.50, with larger arrangements fetching up to $75. She notes that despite wartime adversities, her busiest day remains March 8th, International Women’s Day.
In the outskirts of Kyiv, where the Russian advance was halted, residents tend to gardens around their damaged homes. A park near the Dnieper River welcomes F-16 fighter jets with a grand flower installation this summer.
Iryna Bielobrova, head of Ukraine’s Florists’ Association, explains that flowers are deeply embedded in Ukrainian culture, marking life’s milestones and fostering emotional ties to the land.
“Flowers are essential for a bright and rich life,” she emphasized. “They convey emotions and stories.”
Sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower since 2020, symbolize the nation’s resilience and defiance. Amidst bombings and destruction, sunflower fields offer solace.
“Dobropark,” a garden west of Kyiv, embodies this resilience. Rebuilt after Russian occupation in 2020, it stands as a testament to nature’s enduring spirit.
“People come here to reconnect,” said Olha Lyhvar, the park’s landscape designer. “They find joy and beauty despite everything.”
In Ukraine, flowers signify not just tradition but also hope and healing, a poignant reminder amidst the turmoil of war.
