France's First Lady presented with legendary Borodianka cockerel – photos
French First Lady Brigitte Macron and the mayor of Paris have been presented with authentic ceramic cockerels, a symbol of Ukraine's resilience, at the opening of Season of Ukraine in Paris entitled Le Voyage en Ukraine. The collection was shown by the Pivnyk charity, which helps veterans restore the hearing loss incurred in the war.
Source: Ukrainska Pravda.Zhyttia (Life)
Details: Organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with support from the ministries of culture of both countries, the Season will run until April 2026 across various French cities and focus on strengthening cultural ties and partnerships between the twin cities. The legendary Vasylkiv cockerels are part of the opening exhibition, highlighting the resilience of Ukrainian culture amid war.
The first lady of France, along with the French foreign and culture ministers and the mayor of Paris, received authentic ceramic cockerels from the collection of the Pivnyk charity, which helps Ukrainian veterans deal with hearing loss caused by the war. The story of the surviving pot inspired the charity's founder, ENT surgeon Ivan Hrynko, to collect cockerels from across Ukraine and establish a foundation combining medical support for veterans with the preservation of Ukrainian cultural heritage.
Through the world-famous ceramic cockerels, the founders draw international partners' attention to hearing loss among service personnel while simultaneously promoting Ukrainian culture.
"These ceramic cockerels are a living, tangible proof that Ukrainian culture and identity cannot be destroyed. Our collection in Paris is a manifesto: culture does not merely exist – it fights and leads us to victory," Hrynko stressed.
The ceramic cockerel, produced at the Vasylkiv majolica factory in the 1960s-80s, achieved worldwide recognition after it miraculously survived the Russian 2022 assault on the town of Borodianka in Kyiv Oblast, and was found on a kitchen cabinet amid the ruins of a house destroyed by Russian forces. Since then, the figurine has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience.
The cockerel was deliberately chosen as a highlight of the Ukrainian exhibition in France, as the rooster (le coq gaulois) is also regarded in French culture as a national symbol traditionally representing courage and fighting spirit. Thus, the Ukrainian cockerel in Paris serves as a bridge between cultures, telling a story of struggle and resilience understood by both Ukrainians and the French.
"This cockerel has become not only a symbol of resilience, but also of the recovery of our defenders. It has united medical support and the preservation of cultural heritage," noted Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
After the Paris opening, the collection will also be shown on 5-6 December at a charity Christmas market at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in France, where visitors will be able to learn more about the legendary symbols of resilience and support the foundation's initiatives to restore hearing for Ukrainian defenders.
For reference: The Pivnyk charitable foundation is a Ukrainian non-profit organisation established in 2024 by a team of doctors to provide systematic support for soldiers with blast-related and acoustic hearing injuries.
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