August 29 is marked as Defender's Remembrance Day in Ukraine, honoring those who sacrificed their lives for the country's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

In Odesa, the morning began with a tribute to fallen heroes and the laying of flowers at the Cossack crosses in the military burial section of one of the city's cemeteries. 

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The Defender's Remembrance Day was established by the Presidential Decree of Ukraine on August 23, 2019, to commemorate the heroism of soldiers and volunteers who gave their lives for their homeland.
The specific date of August 29 is significant as it marks the anniversary of the Ilovaisk tragedy, which occurred ten years ago during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Many Ukrainian soldiers showed remarkable bravery, and it was one of the bloodiest days in the war.
The sunflower symbolizes this day, as hundreds of defenders laid down their lives in the sunflower fields while fighting for freedom and independence.
On August 29, we remember not only those who perished in Ilovaisk but also the tens of thousands of fallen defenders in the ongoing conflict since 2014, which remains the greatest challenge in our modern history.