Sunflowers were already Ukraine’s national flower, but they have emerged as a symbol of resistance after a widely shared video clip appeared to show a Ukrainian woman berating Russian soldiers, telling them to put sunflower seeds in their pockets so that flowers would grow after they died in battle—see this article in Business Insider India for more information on this subject.
I just listened the words of Ukrainian President Zelensky as he described the horrific Russian cruise missile strike on Freedom Square in the center of Kharkiv and the tears are still wet on my cheeks. These sunflowers photos that I have taken in recent years are a visual sign of my support for the ongoing heroic actions of the Ukrainian people. Please pray for all of those affected by Putin’s unprovoked war, especially the Ukrainians, who are paying the highest price.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Thanks for this Mike. I have seldom known such universal and well-deserved solidarity behind a country’s population
Thanks, Peter. I am tremendously proud in particular of the way that European countries have set aside their differences and domestic political considerations to show support for Ukraine, despite the fact that many of them will suffer economically from that support. Why? I think that we all agree that it is the right thing to do; it is the human thing to do; our hearts have not hardened to the point that we are indifferent to suffering–it is sad that it takes a crisis like this to bring us to this point of cooperation.
Mike, this is beautiful. I’m in sorrow for them. My prayers are with them. It’s difficult to do my day-to-day while such tragedy and turmoil exists. I can pray. 💛 🌻
Thanks. I appreciate your words of support. Militarily we are on the sidelines, but I hope we can all pull together to provide what support we can–I love your simple concluding statement, “I can pray.”
Thank you too, Mike. We’ll stand in hope!
What happens in Ukraine is terrible and all casualties deserve help.
Let’s hope for peace without further blood share.
Amen, Rudi. So many people are affected throughout Europe and throughout the world. I pray for an end to hostilities and a cease-fire, putting an end to the destruction and deaths.
Thanks. My late mom was Ukrainian, and I so appreciate how the world is supporting Ukraine.
This is a touching and beautiful post! I have been closely following reliable news sources for updates about this unprovoked atrocious war. I, too, had read about the Ukrainian woman…with admiration for her defiance and bravery of confronting armed soldiers with sunflower seeds. I am reminded of my Gram’s yearly row of Sunflowers at the upper end of the garden which were called her “sentries”. I wonder if the Ukrainians are aware of this old Thomas Bulfinch (1796 – 1867) quote that I learned as a child : “The sunflower is a favorite emblem of constancy.” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Lovely post Mike. What is happening is becoming increasingly scary with the russian (yes, no capital r) madman threatening a nuclear response if we get too involved.
Very dark times ahead.
❤ beautiful post and my prayers continue!
Beautiful photos.
Great Post and fully agree with you! My prayers are with the Ukrainian people!!
[…] Sunflowers for Ukraine […]
The woman telling soldiers maybe sunflowers will grow on the place where they die. The people stopping a tank with bare hands. The grandpa lecturing Russian soldiers, despite him being Russian. People helping Ukrainians in any way they can. Despite it being dreadful, this war has brought out a good side of us humans, too. I shared your post, hope you don’t mind. May there be peace one of these days.
I am in awe of the way that people are pulling together in Ukraine and of the way that Europeans changing some longstanding policies and uniting in their opposition to Putin (including neutrals like Switzerland). We often reduce patriotism to bumper sticker slogans like “Live Free or Die” and “Freedom Isn’t Free.” The Ukrainian people are showing the world what that means. I have absolutely no problems with you sharing my posting–we all need to do what we can, even if it simply praying.
Beautiful picture and tribute Mike. Thank you speaking up in support of Ukraine 🙏
Thanks–it really is the least that I can do. I understand all of the reasons why NATO countries, including the US, fear to get involved militarily, worrying that the conflict might turn nuclear. That understanding, though, doesn’t do anything the ease my breaking heart.
http://akpufred.art.blog/2022/03/07/dont-lose-yourself-in-the-process-of-chasing-shadows/
My heart breaks every day. What beautiful photo and words. I did not know the sunflower was the national flower. Now I do. 🌻🙏❤
Thanks, Lisa. My heart continues to break too as this horrific war continues with ever increasing intensity. I pray that peace will come to this beautiful land and to the Ukrainian before more of the country is destroyed and more of its innocent citizens are slaughtered.
😢🙏
Thank you Mike!
I’m sharing this on my blog because it’s thought provoking and one that fits in my series on the Ukrainian conflict. Thanks for your write-up. 🙂
Thanks for sharing. The situation in Ukraine continues to weigh on my heart and I have not stopped praying for peace.
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