FINLAND-RUSSIA-UKRAINE-DIPLOMACY-TOURISM

Water flows from the dam of The Imatra Rapids in Imatra, Finland, on August 12, 2022. – A mass of people gathers in the Eastern Finnish city of Imatra on a bridge overlooking Imatrankoski rapids, one of the Nordic country’s most well-known natural attractions. Same time every day, the river’s almost a century-old dam is opened and water rushes under the bridge, accompanied by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius’ music. But since the end of July, the city of Imatra has started the show by playing the Ukrainian national anthem, to protest the Russian invasion. Also in the nearby city of Lappeenranta, Ukrainian national anthem is played every evening on top of its city hall, overlooking shopping centres popular with Russian tourists.

(Photo by Alessandro RAMPAZZO / AFP)