During the security forum in Halifax (Canada), Ukrainian activists and soldiers handed over to US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin a flag that was hidden by a local woman in the occupied Kherson region.
Daria Kaleniuk, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Center, which after the start of the full-scale war, has been advocating the supply of arms, told "European Truth" about this in Halifax.
As you know, Lloyd Austin was one of the participants of the forum in Halifax, where he gave a speech, and on the sidelines of the forum he briefly crossed paths with a group of Ukrainian women - military and civilian - who were also invited to the event.
"We had the opportunity to speak briefly with the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and presented him with a flag. This flag is very symbolic. A Ukrainian woman who lived in an occupied village in the Kherson Region took it down from the flagpole in the center of the village when the Russians entered there. She is 8.5 months, as long as the occupation lasted, she kept this flag, hid it, risking her life in case this flag was found in his possession," Kaleniuk told EuroPravda.
From the woman who hid the flag, he got into the military. "When the Armed Forces liberated this village, she presented this flag to our defenders, and they signed it, so it is both very beautiful and very symbolic," the activist added.
Senior Lieutenant Yulia Mykytenko, who fought in the East of Ukraine immediately before the trip to Halifax, was tasked with handing over this flag to the head of the Pentagon.
According to Kaleniuk, Ukrainian women used this opportunity to ask for new weapons for Ukraine.
"Austin was very touched and said that his team is working every day to get what we need. We gave thanks for what we have and asked to unlock some military aid titles, including military aircraft and armored vehicles such as modern tanks." - she explained.
As reported, at the security forum in Halifax, the prize named after Senator McCain was awarded to women of Ukraine.