The Lithuanians and Ukrainians unite not only the Struve Geodetic Arc, which was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage, but also the the Hill of Crosses.

For us and for you, for the freedom of Europe!

Ukrainian soldiers living in the Rehabilitation center in Druskininkai made the first cross on the footstep of the Hill of Crosses in 2017, after the Easter – on the 19th of April.

The cross for the friendship of Ukrainians and Lithuanians is a common desire for freedom and independence. The memory of those who perished and of those who are still alive – the heroes of the Maidan, fighters for the Crimea, friends, fighting in the Donbas war.

“We came on the Hill of Crosses to build a cross for the heroes who died for their and for our freedom, for the independence of Ukraine. Today Ukraine is fighting not only for the territorial integrity of their country, but also for theirs Independence, it fights for the freedom of Europe, it is especially honorable to be here with the heroes, whom I wholeheartedly want to say thank you”- then spoke Ramūnas Šerpatauskas, the author of this noble idea, yhe specialist of the Jonas Basanavičius Military Medicine Rehabilitation Center.

Destroyed but restored

From April to August 2017, Ukrainian soldiers built four crosses. But on August 7, the soldiers saw a ruined place – all Ukrainian crosses were broken.

However, three of four crosses were successful found. The visitors of the Mountain of Crosses had just found these crosses and put them in the other places.

The rehabilitation of soldiers is still ongoing

Lithuania is carrying out an approved rehabilitation program for soldiers. From September 2014, four to six Ukrainian soldiers are coming to Lithuania from Ukraine each month to receive medical treatment and rehabilitation at the Druskininkai Military Rehabilitation Center.

Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine in 2014 the aid in Lithuania got nearly 200 Ukrainian soldiers who were injured in anti-terrorist operations in eastern Ukraine.

Jonas Basanavičius Military Rehabilitation Center in Druskininkai every year recruits up to 50 wounded Ukrainian soldiers for rehabilitation.

DE: Der Berg der Kreuze in Litauen

EN: Hill of Crosses in Lithuania

LT: Kryžių kalnas

УА: Гора Хрестів в Литві