On 4 April 2025, within Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025, the Garrison Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Lviv gathered guests for an Evening of Remembrance that honoured Ukrainian Heros who were killed and lost their lives during russia’s brutal invasion to Ukraine.

The event gathered families of Heros, a full audience of representatives from public authorities, civil society, and European and Ukrainian institutions working in the youth sector, along with many citizens of Ukraine. Luís ALVEIS, Head of Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade, and Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, joined the commemoration.

Participants united in a joined prayer and listened to the twelve compositions. Artists dedicated eleven pieces to young soldiers and activists who gave their lives for Ukraine, and one song to all victims of the war. The performance featured Ukrainian musicians including Misha Pravylnyi, Zhenia Halych (O.Torvald), Maryna Krut, NAZVA, Sasha Bul, renie cares, Yulia Yurina, YARMAK, Viacheslav Drofa (OTOY), Kateryna Pavlenko (Go_A), and Mykhailo Lundin (Braty Hadiukiny). The evening concluded with all participants joining in a collective a cappella performance of “Pisnia bude pomizh nas” (“The Song Will Live Among Us”), creating a powerful moment of unity and remembrance. During the final song, all names of killed Ukrainians buried in Lviv were illuminated at the ceiling of the church.

The evening paid special tribute to Ukrainian Heros – young leaders, artists, musicians, sportsmen, medics, journalists, Scouts, volunteers, civic activists who died defending Ukraine:

• Iryna Tsybukh (“Cheka”) – journalist, documentary filmmaker, and combat medic
• Dmytro Pashchuk (“Harmash/Frantsuz”) – Special Forces soldier, French Foreign Legion veteran, and scout
• Artem Dymyd (“Kurka”) – Ukrainian defender and volunteer
• Taras Matviiv (“Sarmat”) – soldier, journalist, and Hero of Ukraine
• Mykola Zababchuk (“Bilyi”) – Armed Forces serviceman and athlete
• Orest Rys (“Zalizniak”) – army captain, musician, and volunteer
• Dmytro Slyvka – medic and soldier
• Bohdan Kril (“Pirat”) – lieutenant and patriotic movement organiser
• Rostyslav Shyiko (“Drohobych”) – fighter, father, and passionate historian
• Maksym Vasylishyn (“Padzhero”) – volunteer and defender of Ukraine

The community also honoured the memory of Yaryna Bazylevych, Programme Manager at the Tvory! Youth Centre and Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025. Yaryna died on 4 September 2024 as a result of a russian missile strike on Lviv.

During the evening, attendees contributed to the launch of a scholarship fund in memory of the Bazylevych family, in partnership with the Ukrainian Catholic University. The initiative aims to support young changemakers – in the spirit of Yaryna, her mother Yevheniia, and sisters Dariia and Emiliia, all of whom were killed by the same missile.

Slava Ukrajini! Herojam Slava!