Arizona skydivers unfurl massive Ukrainian flag over U.S. skies ahead of Independence Day

Before Independence Day in the U.S. sky, skydivers unfurled a giant blue-and-yellow flag.

In Arizona, the skydivers performed a spectacular jump with the Ukrainian banner, keeping it fully open for exactly 34 seconds – one for each year of Ukraine’s independence since 1991.

The Ukrainian community organization Cactus and Trident in Arizona told Espreso about the event.

The flag jump was performed by professional skydiver Frank Eloff, a third-generation member of a skydiving dynasty. He has more than 25 years in the sport, over 17,000 jumps, and nine world records to his name. Eloff executed a fast and controlled deployment of the flag with stabilization in the air flow.

He was accompanied by Craig Emrhein, a professional with 32 years of skydiving experience and more than 12,000 jumps. Emrhein handled aerial filming with helmet-mounted cameras, coordinating his work with the flag jumper and maintaining safe distances during freefall and under the canopy.

“Every second I was in the sky with that flag, I thought about the people in Ukraine who risk everything for freedom. I’m not Ukrainian, but I believe in their struggle and want the world to keep watching. This jump is my way of saying: we see you, we support you, and we won’t look away. Jumping with that flag is not just a symbol, it’s a statement. For 34 seconds in freefall, I represented 34 years of Ukrainian independence. I am proud to use my voice and my skills to keep this fight in the spotlight,” Frank Eloff said after landing.