Ukraine, Latvia launch EU living memorials project to honor fallen Ukrainian foresters

State Enterprise Forests of Ukraine and Latvian partners launched a project to create living memorials in the EU, planting 2,000 pines in Latvia to honor nearly 200 fallen Ukrainian foresters, the state enterprise’s press service said on Facebook on Monday.

"Memory of the fallen must transform into the world’s resolve to stop Russia," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during the Four Freedoms Award 2026 ceremony.

The event in Talsi Municipality near Kamparkalns marked the first international expansion of the Forests of Memory project, which has already seen nearly 50 memorial groves planted in Ukraine. Participants installed a commemorative sign and planted trees in honor of Ukrainian heroes at the Latvian site on April 23.

"Today here, on Latvian soil, we are creating a living monument to Ukrainian foresters who defended their Motherland with weapons in hand. These trees will remind everyone of the courage of the Ukrainian people and the price paid for independence," Latvian Forest Certification Council Chairman Maris Liopa said.

The Latvian Ministry of Agriculture, the Latvian Forest Certification Council, and companies Latvijas valsts meži and Latvijas Finieris organized the event.

Forests of Ukraine predicts that similar memorial forests will appear in other EU countries this year to strengthen international support and honor the feat of Ukrainian soldiers.

Additionally, Latvian volunteers delivered another batch of aid to the Ukrainian Forces on April 19, including seven buses, two of which are microbuses for units where foresters from Volyn and Rivne regions serve.