On the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders and Defendresses of Ukraine, Dnipro State University of Internal Affairs joined the national action “Table of Memory” — a quiet, but eloquent initiative in memory of those who should have been here today.
Participation in the honoring was taken by the leadership of the university, cadets, students and listeners of the CSIPT “Academy of Police” of DSUIA.
A symbolic Table of Memory was set up at the university. An empty place at it reminds of a person who will no longer return home, will not sit next to their family, will not share an ordinary day with them. On the table — a candle, sunflowers, a blue-yellow ribbon and the names of the fallen. Simple symbols, behind each of which — someone’s life, family, dreams and future, cut short by war.
The action “Table of Memory” was initiated in 2023 by Mariia Hrabar, the wife of the fallen defender Illia Hrabar. Later, the Memory Platform “Memorial” together with the Illia Hrabar Foundation expanded the initiative, turning it into a nationwide tradition of honoring.
For the university community, this table became a place of special silence. Long speeches are not needed near it: an empty chair speaks for itself. It reminds of the price of the opportunity to study, work, make plans and meet a new day in one’s country.
By joining the action, the community of DSUIA honored the memory of all Defenders and Defendresses who gave their lives for Ukraine. As long as we name their names, tell their stories and leave a place for them in our memory — they remain with us.
Also, all those present watched a cycle of films of the project of the Ministry of Internal Affairs “Shot by russia”, from which they learned about the life and fate of the defenders who gave their lives for Ukraine.
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