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Summary for: Activists project Ukrainian flag onto National Museum to mark war anniversaryActivists briefly returned the Ukrainian flag to Prague’s National Museum on Monday evening, marking four years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The laser projection, staged from Washingtonská Street, comes as Czech institutions hold commemorative events and reaffirm support for Kyiv.
The initiative was organized by the Kaputin group and Civic Signpost. The projection alternated between the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag and the slogans “Rusko musíme porazit” and “We must defeat Russia.”
In a statement, the groups said the action aimed to galvanize the Czech public and encourage politicians at both national and European levels to maintain financial, political, and military assistance for Ukraine.
Activists warned that after four years of full-scale war and 12 years since Russia’s initial aggression in 2014, the conflict had reached what they described as a critical stage.
The organizers pointed to continued Russian strikes on civilian targets and alleged efforts to exploit growing fatigue among Western populations. They also highlighted what they described as pro-Russian influence operations targeting public opinion in the Czech Republic and across Europe.
Flag projection at-a-glance
- Activists projected the Ukrainian flag onto Prague’s National Museum on the invasion’s fourth anniversary.
- They urged continued Czech and European support for Ukraine.
- The move follows last year’s removal of a physical flag from the building.
Alongside the projection, the organizers published an open letter addressed to European leaders. The letter was signed by several international security figures, including British analyst Edward Lucas and Czech Ukraine expert Lenka Víchová.
Flag removal sparked criticism
The symbolic display follows the removal of a physical Ukrainian flag from the museum building last August. At the time, the flag was taken down to make space for promotional materials for an exhibition on human fossils.
The original banner had been installed shortly after the invasion in February 2022 as a gesture of solidarity.
Its removal sparked criticism from some members of the public. In October, dozens of protesters gathered on the museum terrace to call for the flag’s return, in a demonstration also organized by the Kaputin group.
Official commemorations are continuing this week. The Ukrainian flag is due to be hoisted at several state institutions, including the Government Office, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of the Interior.
Government spokeswoman Karela Mráčková told ČTK in January that while Czech and EU flags remain the standard display at government buildings, the Ukrainian flag is raised on significant dates. She added that support for Ukraine is not defined solely by whether the flag is permanently displayed.
