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Minneapolis to light up blue and yellow on anniversary of war in Ukraine

The I-35W Bridge, Lowry Avenue Bridge, U.S. Bank Stadium and other downtown landmarks will remain lit through the weekend in solidarity with Ukraine.

MINNEAPOLIS — Downtown Minneapolis landmarks will be bathed in a blue and yellow glow Friday night in a display of solidarity with Ukraine.

Feb. 24, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and subsequent war. Since then, tens of thousands of Ukrainians have died in one of Europe’s biggest and deadliest conflicts since World War II.

At the request of Minneapolis City Council Member Michael Rainville, the Interstate 35W Bridge, Lowry Avenue Bridge, the Capella Tower, Target headquarters, U.S. Bank Stadium, U.S. Bankcorp Center, Four Seasons/RBC Gateway building and Nicollet Mall will all be lit up in blue and yellow through the weekend.

At 6 p.m. Friday, the community is invited to a candlelight vigil at the IDS Tower. Elected officials have been invited to speak at the ceremony, where Chaplain Howard Dotson will share a reflection after four missions in Ukraine since last year. 

Another vigil is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Lowry Avenue Bridge park area.

"It was a year of pain and sorrow, faith and unity... we know that 2023 will be the year of our victory!" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted ahead of the war's somber anniversary.

According to the Ukrainian American Community Center, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey declared Friday, Feb. 24 as Solidarity With Ukraine Day in the city, and Gov. Tim Walz issued a similar proclamation for the state of Minnesota.

"MPLS is home to a thriving Ukrainian community, and we continue to stand by our friends and neighbors here — and every single Ukrainian across the world," Frey said in a tweet Friday.

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