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For nearly a month, the Russian army relentlessly shelled residential buildings in the city of Borodyanka, preventing locals from clearing the rubble where people were trapped. After the city's liberation, a nearly destroyed house was found to contain a cupboard with rows of plates that had survived, topped by a clay figurine of a rooster. Ukrainians have a strong tradition of decorating their homes with ceramic items, and this particular rooster, a product of the Vasylkiv majolica factory near Kyiv, was made in the 1960s.

Everyone was astonished that the delicate ceramic rooster had managed to withstand the explosions and destruction of the house, remaining perched on the cupboard. As a result, the indestructible kitchen cupboard with its steadfast rooster figurine became a symbol of the resilience and indomitable spirit of the Ukrainian people.

Almost every Ukrainian family makes their own pickled tomatoes. Who would have thought they could become a weapon in the hands of a Ukrainian woman when faced with an enemy drone?

This is exactly what happened at the very beginning of the war in Kyiv, which was surrounded by enemy forces at the time. A woman named Olena was sitting on her balcony smoking at dawn when she heard a buzzing sound. A drone was directly in front of her. Olena grabbed one of the pickled tomatoes that was under her chair, threw it, and shot down the drone.

"It was probably out of fear. I was scared. What if they started shooting at me from there? And what a pity about those tomatoes..." says the Kyiv resident, whose story quickly became a popular empowering meme on social media around the world.

Cats are the most common pets in Ukraine, often regarded as guardians of home comfort and symbols of family well-being. Cats have always been treated with special care—they are loved, protected, cared for, and respected. This is why people began affectionately calling Ukrainian soldiers "kitties," as they are the guardians and protectors of all of Ukraine.

It's no surprise that real, fluffy cats have appeared in the trenches and foxholes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, serving as reminders of warmth, peace, kindness, and comfort. Many cats have been rescued and healed by the soldiers, becoming true mascots of their units. The soldiers' tender care for these cats has become a symbol of their humanity and kindness toward all living beings in need of protection from enemy forces.

A symbol of strength, endurance, longevity, nobility, and glory, the oak has held deep significance since ancient times. Many cultures dedicated the oak to Zeus the Thunderer, the god of lightning and thunder, believing that the oak could withstand even a lightning strike.

The oak embodies the fullness of life, mighty power, and majestic beauty, and therefore it cannot be sick or weak. By its nature, it never bends. For these qualities, the oak is considered a sacred tree in Ukraine.

According to legend, on Khortytsia Island near the majestic Dnieper River (now the city of Zaporizhzhia), there once grew a legendary oak, from whose acorns hundreds of young oak trees were planted on the island and throughout all of Ukraine. The Zaporozhian Cossacks believed that as long as the leaves of the oaks rustle, Ukraine will be protected.

Viburnum (Kalina) is a symbol of Ukraine, representing one's homeland, ancestral land, and paternal home. The Ukrainian name for this plant comes from the word "kality," meaning "to temper" metal in blacksmithing. Ukrainians forged plows from metal to cultivate their land, but when enemies came, they reforged them into swords to defend their homeland.

The ruby berries of viburnum, according to folk beliefs, symbolize the courage of those who shed their blood for their homeland in the struggle against enemies. It is a sacred plant for Ukrainians, and its branches are never broken. In autumn, clusters of red viburnum are carefully harvested for their healing and medicinal properties. Teas are brewed from the berries to treat colds and are drunk in winter to warm the soul and heart. The folk song "Oi u luzi chervona kalina" became a symbolic national song of the Ukrainian people when the war began in 2022.