On May 2, 2026, Ukraine, together with dozens of countries around the world, joined the large-scale environmental initiative “One Million Trees of Memory and Life” as part of the global Greening of the Planet movement.
The initiative aims to unite Ukrainians worldwide in honoring those who gave their lives for Ukraine, while also contributing to environmental restoration. It includes planting memorial trees, including personalized trees dedicated to heroes and defenders, and creating memorial alleys and parks across communities.
The initiative was organized by the “Greening of Ukraine” Foundation and the NGO “World Ukrainians”, with the support of the Office of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, international partners, regional administrations, local authorities, businesses, and Ukrainian communities worldwide.
Approximately one million trees were planted as part of the initiative. Tens of thousands of Ukrainians from more than 30 countries and all regions of Ukraine participated, making it a масштабна глобальна action and a basis for a world record.
Kyiv became the central location, hosting a telethon with live connections from across Ukraine and abroad.
Participants included representatives of government institutions, diplomatic missions, local authorities, civil society, business, the military, volunteers, cultural figures, and medical professionals.
Welcome remarks were delivered by Iryna Mudra, Dmytro Lubinets, Elena Leticia Teresa Mikusinski, Valentyn Ostryzhnyi, Serhii Kozyr, Hennadii Chyzhykov, and Oksana Bilozir.
The initiative became one of the largest unifying actions of 2026, bringing together over 100,000 Ukrainians worldwide. For the first time, a significant number of independently organized locations joined the initiative.
In total, more than 500 locations in over 30 countries and all regions of Ukraine are involved. The world record is expected to be officially confirmed soon.
Since the launch of the Greening of the Planet initiative, more than 55 million trees have already been planted in 141 countries worldwide.
The initiative once again demonstrated that unity and environmental action can preserve memory, strengthen responsibility, and shape the future.
