Merikasarmi building, Helsinki City Hall lit up in blue and yellow

The Merikasarmi building of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is lit up on Thursday in blue and yellow to express solidarity with Ukraine, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

Finland firmly supports Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, self-determination and territorial integrity, the ministry added.

The façade of the Helsinki City Hall was also illuminated with blue and yellow lighting, the colors of the Ukrainian flag on Thursday evening, said the City of Helsinki in a press release.

With the gesture Helsinki wants to show its solidarity and support for Ukraine and the Ukrainians.

"By illuminating the City Hall, we want to show our thoughts are now with the Ukrainians. The Ukrainians living in Helsinki are also in our minds," said Helsinki Mayor Juhana Vartiainen.

Earlier, Finland on Thursday strongly condemned Russia´s military attack on Ukraine and expressed sympathies to the people of Ukraine.

Terming the overnight attack as shocking to everyone, President Sauli Niinistö and Prime Minister Sanna Marin from a joint press conference also demanded an immediate end to the hostilities.

Russia on Thursday morning started military attacks on Ukraine