24/08/2026
𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟑𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 🇺🇦 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲
Today, 24 August, marks the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day. To celebrate Ukrainian culture and highlight the 🇪🇺 European Union’s steadfast support for Ukraine, the EU Office to Hong Kong and Macao again proudly supported Ukrainian Culture Day, organised by the Ukrainian Society of Hong Kong at the Goethe-Institut last Saturday (22 August). Matthias Kaufmann, Acting Head of the Office of the European Union to Hong Kong and Macao, joined members of the local Ukrainian community and guests at the colourful event, which featured traditional Ukrainian food, music, art and distinctive embroidery crafts.
In his opening remarks, Kaufmann highlighted the 𝐄𝐔’𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, latest attacks on cultural heritage and atrocities against Ukrainian civilians: ‘𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭. 𝐖𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐫. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐔’𝐬 𝟐𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚’𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐲. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧.'
The 21st package includes the highest number of listings since the start of Russia’s war of aggression four years ago. It targets more than 100 banks and crypto operators, over 40 vessels of Russia’s shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil, several oil refineries in Russia and Belarus, and more than 50 military-industrial entities. EU support for Ukraine amounts to €220.2 billion since the beginning of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression,
Kaufmann also stressed that sanctions evasion through China including Hong Kong remained a grave concern. He concluded that: ‘There is great strength, there is much solidarity, and there is hope for a just and lasting peace. No weapon can destroy the identity and remarkable spirit of the Ukrainian people and their future in the European Union.’
All proceeds of the event will once again support aid projects in Ukraine. A heartfelt thank you to the Ukrainian Society of Hong Kong and the Goethe-Institut for hosting this important event, and to all friends and supporters for joining us.
More information on the EU’s 21st package of sanctions: https://finance.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-adopts-21th-package-sanctions-against-russia-2026-07-23_en
