On March 9, the birthday of Taras Shevchenko, activists held an art rally called «Free Sky» at Kyiv’s Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square. It aimed to support the appeal of Ukrainian nation and President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Western countries and other states – to close the sky and stop the war. Musicians of Kyiv Classic symphonic orchestra led by conductor Herman Makarenko who stayed in the capital performed the national anthem of Ukraine and the anthem of Europe (the fragment of Ode for Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven), as well as a number of famous Ukrainian music pieces.
Leaders and citizens of Ukraine have been appealing for the Western countries for 14 days in a row. The demand is voiced out during the numerous manifestations in most of the countries worldwide. Prime Minister Denys Shmygal urges to apply pressure on the Western governments. «Unable to stand against the Ukrainian army in a fair fight, the Russian occupants resorted to bombing of Ukrainian cities, destruction of residential houses, schools, hospitals and kindergartens. Civilians die from missiles and bombs, Ukrainian children perish», he said. Shmygal urged the people of peace to take it to the streets on March 9, 10 and 11, urging the Western governments to close the skies over Ukraine or let Ukraine a chance to do so by itself.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov expressed his gratitude for the support from the allies. He also reiterated that currently, at this very moment, we need the fastest and most practical assistance, and the Ukrainian victory and the non-defeat of the West depend on it. That’s the closure of Ukrainian sky or passage of combat aviation and anti-aircraft defense systems. «If NATO doesn’t want to or can’t close the sky over Ukraine, we will close it ourselves. Give us your weapons if they are still sheathed», the NSDC secretary said.
The Washington Post cites Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who insists that it takes immediate and decisive steps to stop Putin. «We need airplanes, we need effective AA defense systems and counter-missile defense systems. We need to protect our skies so that Russian aviation and missiles do not kill civilians», said the Minister.
«The nuclear war can start even without the launch of nuclear missiles», stated Herman Halushchenko, Ukraine’s Energy Minister. «I couldn’t even imagine in my most frightening nightmares that someone would capture Chornobyl and Zaporizhya NPPs, or the attack on Kharkiv physical and technical institute where the nuclear research facility is installed», he said.
The official urged the international organizations to use all of their capacities and pay all efforts to set the no-fly zone over Ukraine before the disaster occurs. Meanwhile, renowned U.S. outlet Politico released the letter of U.S. diplomats to President Joe Biden, in which they urged him to impose the limited no-fly zone over Ukraine – specifically, for protection of humanitarian corridors.
