People observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, in the Lukianivska neighborhood of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Every morning at 9 a.m., Ukrainians observe a nationwide minute of silence for the soldiers and civilians killed in Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Established by presidential decree in March 2022, the ritual unfolds across Kyiv as traffic stops and people pause in streets, markets, cafés, bookshops and schools. For 60 seconds, the rhythms of the capital give way to remembrance.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A woman stands still as she observes a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, in Kyiv, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Customers and employees observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia at a book store in Kyiv, Ukraine Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)People observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, in the Lukianivska neighborhood of Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Women attend a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia at the Independence square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, marking Ukraine’s Defenders Remembrance Day. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)People observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)A woman observes a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, some of them with their photos displayed at St. Sophia square in Kyiv, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Commuters observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, as they wait for a bus in Kyiv, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)A street cleaner observes a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, in Kyiv, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)People observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia as smoke rises from the city following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Women attend a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia at the Independence square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, marking Ukraine’s Defenders Remembrance Day. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)A police officer observes a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia, in Kyiv, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Women attend a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia at the Independence square in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, marking Ukraine’s Defenders Remembrance Day. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)A woman observes a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia at a book store in Kyiv, Ukraine Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Children and teachers observe a daily nationwide minute of silence in memory of soldiers killed in the war with Russia during the traditional back to school celebrations in Kyiv, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
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