On Friday, June 26, Crimean Tatar Flag Day, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha took part in a solemn ceremony to raise the Crimean Tatar flag at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv.

The event was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev; the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov; the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Olga Kuryshko; members of the Ukrainian Parliament; military personnel; diplomats; and other guests.

Andrii Sybiha emphasized the important contribution of the Crimean Tatar people—as an integral part of Ukraine’s political, cultural, and historical community—to the development of the Ukrainian state. The minister noted that the tradition of raising the Crimean Tatar flag at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine began in 2016.

“Today, the Crimean Tatar flag has taken on yet another special meaning. It has become a symbol of resistance to the occupation, the struggle for justice, and faith in a return home. Today, the Crimean Tatar people have once again become one of the main targets of the occupying authorities’ repressive policies. However, Russia has failed to achieve its main goal—to break the will of the people,” he said.

The Foreign Minister noted that on this day, Ukrainian diplomats are also raising the Crimean Tatar flag at Ukrainian embassies in capitals around the world as a sign of respect for the Crimean Tatar people.

Andrii Sybiha stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is consistently working to ensure that the issue of Crimea remains among the key priorities on the international agenda.

The leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev; the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov; and the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Olga Kuryshko, also addressed those present.

The ceremonial raising of the Crimean Tatar flag was performed by Colonel Marlen Dzherbinov, a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A special part of the ceremony was a performance by children, who recited poems dedicated to the Crimean Tatar flag in both Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar.

After the official part of the ceremony concluded, guests viewed an exhibition of works by students from the Crimean Tatar “Birlik School” Lyceum, set up near the Ministry building. The participation of the youth demonstrated the continuity across generations and the Crimean Tatar community’s living connection to its language, culture, and national symbols.

The annual observance of Crimean Tatar Flag Day on June 26 symbolizes the resilience of the Crimean Tatar people, their struggle for their rights, dignity, and freedom, as well as their resistance to the temporary occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.