February 23, 2023
Press Release
To mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. Missions to Italy, the Holy See, and the UN Agencies in Rome will illuminate their office buildings in Rome, Florence, Milan, and Naples with the colors of Ukrainian flag. These symbolic gestures represent U.S. solidarity with the government and people of Ukraine. The Italian people and government are also illuminating a number of landmarks across the country. We wish to express our gratitude for Italy’s outstanding leadership in support of Ukraine.
The United States, together with our partners and allies, remains committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and democracy against Russia’s brutal and barbaric war. In the last year, according to the United Nations, there have been more than 7,000 civilian deaths, including over 400 children. An estimated 13.7 million Ukrainians have been forced from their homes, 7.8 million as refugees and 5.9 million who have been internally displaced. That is approximately 30 percent of the entire population displaced in just one year. Entire cities have been destroyed. Russia is deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure, leaving millions of households without reliable electricity, heat, and water in the middle of winter.
As President Biden said this week in Kyiv, the struggle by the Ukrainian people to defend their country reminds us that freedom is priceless. The United States will stand with Ukrainians for as long as it takes for them to secure their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.
The schedule for illuminating the U.S. Missions’ buildings in Italy is as follows:
U.S. Embassy in Rome: February 23 at 17:00 to February 26 at 00:00
U.S. Consulate General in Florence: February 23 at 17:00 to February 26 at 00:00
U.S. Consulate General in Milan: February 23rd and 24th from 19:00 – 02:00
U.S. Consulate General in Naples: February 23rd and 24th from 18:00 – 06:00
U.S. Mission to Italy
U.S. Consulate Naples
U.S. Consulate Florence
U.S. Consulate Milan
