Illuminations and flagging in Tampere on Ukraine's National Day 24 August 

Tammerkoski and Hämeenkatu light curtains will be blue and yellow on Ukraine's National Day on 24 August. The Ukrainian flag will be hoisted on a beam in front of the City Hall. With the flag and the lighting in the city centre, Tampere wants to show its solidarity with Ukraine. Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine has lasted for one and a half years on 24 August 2023. 

"With this small but symbolically important act, we want to show that Tampere and the people in Tampere stand consistently and strongly on the side of Ukraine and our twin city, Kyiv," says Kalervo Kummola, Mayor of Tampere. 

Ukrainian colours have shone in the city before, when the city lit up buildings and streets on Ukrainian National Day in 2022 and in February 2023, one year after the Russian invasion. 

Over the past year and a half, Tampere has supported the people in its twin city Kyiv in various ways. Immediately after the Russian war of aggression began, the Tampere City Council decided to donate 150 000 euros in supplies and money to the Ukrainians. Since then, the donations to Ukraine have included the donation of buses that are no longer in service, and the transport of relief supplies to Ukraine. Last year, the city organised an “Apua Ukrainalle” support concert and commemorated the performers that visited Odessa Ballet. 

A summer camp for children from Kyiv was organised for the second time this summer. Earlier this year, the City of Tampere participated in the Generators of Hope campaign and collected generators and aggregates for Kyiv. A total of 33 generators were donated. The City Council also decided that the City of Tampere will participate in the campaign by buying generators and donating them to the collection. Kyiv has been Tampere's twin city since 1954. 

In August 2023, The City of Tampere, Ilves and Tappara supported Ukrainian citizens and the residents of Kyiv by donating half of the ticket proceeds of the Aamulehti Tampere Cup to Ukraine. Together with the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county, the City of Tampere will also send decommissioned Nysse buses and a water truck to Kyiv. The traditional ice hockey tournament was played on Nokia Arena between 11 and 12 August 2023. 

Postcards from Ukraine photo exhibition in Hämeenpuisto boulevard from 28 August to 10 September 

The Postcards from Ukraine photo exhibition in Hämeenpuisto in Tampere from 28 August to 10 September 2023 reveals the extent of the destruction caused by Russian bombings to Ukrainian cultural institutions. The pictures in the exhibition show how Russia is destroying not only Ukrainian towns and villages but also the country’s cultural heritage, some of it dating back thousands of years. 

The photographs have so far been exhibited in more than 40 countries. The exhibition comes to Tampere from Helsinki, where it was on display in Esplanadi in June.  

The project was produced by the Ukrainian Institute with the support of USAID and in cooperation with the creative agency Green Penguin Media. The exhibition in Tampere is organised by The Association of Ukrainians in Tampere together with the Helsinki-based Ukrainian Association in Finland. The City of Tampere is a partner.