Every morning at 9 o’clock, Kyiv falls silent. Traffic lights halt, and a rhythmic metronome beat, amplified through loudspeakers, cues 60 seconds of profound reflection. Vehicles pause mid-street, their drivers stepping out to stand in quiet reverence, heads bowed.
This solemn pause extends across Ukraine – observed in bustling cafes, active gyms, quiet schools, on television broadcasts, and even along the front lines. It’s a unified moment to remember those who have tragically perished in Russia’s devastating full-scale invasion.
At Kyiv’s iconic Maidan Square, a growing outdoor memorial stands as a testament to the fallen. Here, four friends gathered, holding simple cardboard signs that declared, “Stop. Honour.” Surrounding them, a poignant tapestry of flags, photographs, and flickering candles honored service members, intertwining collective grief with resolute pride.
These four friends share a profound connection through Iryna Tsybukh, a brave 25-year-old combat medic whose life was tragically cut short by a landmine in Eastern Ukraine last year. Her untimely death ignited a national wave of sorrow, propelling forward the daily remembrance initiative with renewed urgency.
Kateryna Datsenko, a close friend of the fallen medic and co-founder of Vshanuy, a civic group dedicated to promoting this daily observance, beautifully articulated its essence. “Memory isn’t about death,” she explained, “it’s about celebrating life – what people cherished, valued, and contemplated. Perhaps someone loved gardening, another a favorite poem. This is the enduring memory we strive to preserve.”
The 9 a.m. ritual was officially established in 2022, merely weeks after the invasion began, through a presidential decree issued by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Since then, it has organically blossomed into a deeply ingrained national practice, weaving itself into the fabric of everyday Ukrainian life.
This public display of unity and remembrance persists, unwavering even as Russian missile and drone attacks have intensified dramatically in recent weeks, relentlessly targeting power facilities and cities nationwide. Despite this relentless escalation, Ukrainians steadfastly continue to gather each morning, honoring every soul lost in the conflict.
Ihor Reva, the deputy head of Kyiv’s military administration, highlighted the profound social and personal resonance of this ritual. “This war carries an immense cost, a terrible price paid in human lives,” Mr. Reva stated. “During this minute, you disengage from daily worries and simply dedicate that time to remembrance. It’s what I would describe as a conscious act of observing time.”
In a significant development, Kyiv’s city officials have recently synchronized traffic lights to universally turn red at 9 a.m., ensuring the capital fully participates in this nationwide pause. “Better late than never,” Mr. Reva remarked, signaling further commitment. “We certainly won’t stop our efforts there.”
For Daria Kolomiec, an activist and staunch supporter of the campaign, this moment is both deeply collective and intensely personal. “Every day we awaken – sometimes after barely any sleep due to relentless attacks – yet every morning at 9 a.m., we assemble to recall why we are still here, and for whom we must remain grateful,” Ms. Kolomiec shared. “You are never alone in this grief. There is a palpable energy that connects us in that shared moment.”