Tampere flies Ukrainian flags at Town Hall in show of support for Kyiv's 35th Independence Day

Ukrainian flags flew at Tampere Town Hall on Monday, 24 August, to mark Ukraine's 35th Independence Day and show municipal support, Aamulehti reported. "Tampere stands with Kyiv now and in the future," Mayor Ilmari Nurminen said.

Tampere and Kyiv are sister cities and have deepened cooperation during Russia's war. The gesture follows the mayors' March meeting, when Nurminen and Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko agreed to step up collaboration, and it echoes earlier city aid including a €30,000 package approved in March the council's decision on municipal aid. Nurminen made the pledge after meeting Klitschko last spring.

National gestures accompanied Tampere's: flags were raised at Helsinki's Senate Square and public events were planned there later on Monday. President Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb are attending Kyiv's commemorations and a coalition meeting of countries supporting Ukraine. Kyiv's security service has warned of an increased risk of Russian strikes on the holiday, amid intensified recent air attacks.