On May 6, on the occasion of Infantry Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, together with Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Colonel Pavlo Palisa, and the head of the "Cultural Forces" platform, Captain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykolai Sierga, ceremonially unveiled an art installation titled “Democracy Stands Because Ukrainian Infantry Stands” in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Ukrainian diplomacy works every day to strengthen our infantry and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is our top priority — our main task — every minute, every hour, in every diplomatic mission, at every level. There is no meeting, no negotiation, where the issue of enhancing our defence capabilities and supporting our army is not raised. This is not just about Ukraine’s security — it’s about the security of Europe,” emphasised Minister Sybiha.

The art piece symbolises the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers and serves as a reminder of the daily struggle for freedom that Ukraine has been waging for more than 11 years in the face of Russian aggression.

“The infantry is not only holding the frontline — they carry the very essence of our choice: freedom, democracy, and dignity. Everything in the army matters, but it all works toward one goal — to keep the infantry standing. Because the strength of their stance determines the resilience of the state. Today we express our gratitude to those defending Ukraine’s right to be free,” said Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa.

The installation is a glass cube containing the actual combat boots of a Ukrainian infantryman who defended Ukraine on one of the fiercest frontlines and was wounded in action.

“These boots were on the front line just two months ago. Today, they stand at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to remind us that freedom has a price — and it is paid by real people. Soldier Oleh Liavor, callsign ‘Bohdanych’, was wounded in Zaporizhzhia, and his boots are not just an exhibit — they are a living memory of those who hold the line. In this war, democracy is reborn — and it rests on the shoulders of the infantry. Where there is humanity, honour, and justice — there lies the future,” said Mykolai Sierga, head of the Cultural Forces and captain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The installation is placed in the Ministry’s lobby, where foreign delegations arrive and media briefings are held.

The goal of the installation is to honour the heroism of the Ukrainian infantry, who defend not only Ukraine’s independence but also the security of the democratic world.

The unveiling ceremony was also attended by paramedic Yuliia “Taira” Paievska, Mariupol defender Serhii Volyna, service members, representatives of the Cultural Forces platform, civil society activists, and diplomats.

Background: The project was implemented on the initiative of the Cultural Forces platform in cooperation with the Command of the Ukrainian Ground Forces.

Concept authors: Andrii Klymenko, Dmytro Khopta
Implementation team: Oleksandr Sosnytskyi, Yurii Bilynskyi