On July 4, 2018 the Vitautas the Great ship arrived in the city of Dnipro. The participants of the Lithuanian television project National Expedition, well-known Lithuanian historians, journalists, some representatives of show business were aboard. On the water boundary of the city, the foreign visitors were met by the ancient Slavic sailer Rusich under the command of city Mayor Borys Filatov. The two ships moored at Festival Pier, where some representatives of regional and local authorities, the Lithuanians of the region and some citizens of Dnipro were already waiting for them with a Ukrainian round loaf (korovai).
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The ceremony was continued by Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania in Dnipro Vitaliy Pivnyak, who stated in his welcoming speech: "We consider your visit to be a beautiful gift given by the country celebrating the centenary of its independence. The more different cultural events are in the city, the more opportunities we have to show the whole world that Dnipro is an interesting and developed European city. We are doubly pleased not only to acquaint you with Ukrainian culture, natural and historical monuments, but also to study and popularize the common Lithuanian-Ukrainian history, thereby strengthening the Lithuanian-Ukrainian relations. "
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The culmination of the ceremony was the acquaintance with the amazing heritage of Dnipropetrovsk region, the original art of Ukrainian painting – Petrykivka painting – the world heritage recognized by UNESCO committee. With the support of the Honorary Consul, a unique opportunity of a painting master class in open air with a beautiful view of the Dnieper was organized.
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Due to the events taking place in eastern Ukraine because of Russia's military aggression, the conflict, which has been worring not only Ukraine but also the entire world for four years, the National Expedition has expressed a desire to visit the first museum of "Civilian feat in ATO events" in Ukraine and to communicate with some participants of the antiterrorist operation. The Lithuanian delegation was shown a new English-speaking panoramic film in the 360 degree format about the ATO events. It should be noted that the tape contains the words of active support to Ukraine from the Lithuanian Republic’s President Dalia Grybauskaite, to its sovereignty and integrity, which sound very symbolically in the year of the centenary of the restoration of Lithuania's independence.
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Then, the National Expedition headed for Kodak Fortress, that is a monument of national significance of Ukraine and a historical value for the Republic of Lithuania.
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A warm meeting was organized by Albertas and Henrietta Rozhe, who met a delegation in their home and introduced with family traditions.
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The National Expedition will last until July 12. All this time, the team of forty three representatives of the Lithuanian intelligentsia and show business will travel around the cities of Ukraine. The video shooted in Ukraine will be shown on Lithuanian television after completing expeditions. 25 episodes are to be bring out. The head of the expedition, professor of history Alfredas Bumblauskas emphasized the importance of the common history and the creation of a historical heritage that is important in the context of modern Europe, the strengthening of freedom and independence of Ukraine, the return to the family of European states. The project is scheduled to be completed on July 12 in Kherson.
