On 26 August, an official reception and charity concert marking the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s Independence took place at the House of the Black Heads in Riga at the initiative of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia.

The event brought together representatives of Latvian state institutions, the diplomatic corps, the volunteer community, the Ukrainian community, and friends of Ukraine.

The official programme began with a minute of silence in memory of those who gave their lives defending the freedom and independence of Ukraine.

Addressing the guests, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia Kateryna Pasynchuk emphasised the special significance that Independence holds for Ukrainians today and expressed sincere gratitude to Latvia for its unwavering political, military and humanitarian support for Ukraine, as well as for the solidarity of Latvian society with the Ukrainian people.

An important part of the evening was its charitable purpose. During the event, funds were raised in support of the Olena Zelenska Foundation’s "Safe School" project - an initiative aimed at creating safe conditions for Ukrainian children to continue their education.

Guests had the opportunity to contribute directly during the event by making charitable donations through dedicated QR codes.

The cultural highlight of the evening was a charity concert featuring renowned Latvian pianist Andrejs Osokins and Ukrainian violinist Yevhen Kostrytskyi. Their joint performance became a vivid symbol of the strong bond between Ukraine and Latvia, built on mutual respect, solidarity and shared European values.

For Ukraine, Independence today comes at a particularly high price. As Ukrainian defenders continue to protect the country from Russian aggression, the support of our international partners, friends of Ukraine and all those who stand with us remains invaluable.

The Embassy of Ukraine expresses its sincere gratitude to the representatives of Latvian state institutions, the diplomatic corps, volunteers, members of the Ukrainian community and all friends of Ukraine who joined us that evening and contributed to the charitable initiative.

Our special thanks go to Andrejs Osokins and Yevhen Kostrytskyi for their exceptional artistry, commitment and personal contribution to this important charitable initiative, as well as to all partners who supported the organisation and successful conduct of the event.

We sincerely thank Latvia and the Latvian people for their steadfast support for Ukraine, their solidarity with the Ukrainian people, and for standing with us in our struggle for freedom, independence and our shared European future.