NATO headquarters Christmas tree features “Borodyanka rooster” that withstood Russian aggression near Kyiv

The NATO HQ decorated its new Christmas tree with a rooster toy, symbolizing Ukrainian resilience.

It is designed as the Borodyanka rooster, which survived the Russian bombing of the Kyiv region in the 2022 invasion, Ukraine's Mission to NATO says on X.

NATO Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Marie-Doha Besanceno received a Christmas tree from Ukraine's Ambassador to the Alliance, Natalia Galibarenko.

The EU Council has also posted photos of decorating a Christmas tree with a ceramic rooster that became a symbol of resilience in Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale war.

The organization said it had received a "truly special gift" directly from Ukraine.

"More than just a decoration, it symbolises hope, the rising of the sun & Ukraine's invincibility. Adorning our Christmas tree, this ornament serves as an expression of our unwavering support for Ukraine," the press release says.

On April 9, 2022, photos of a kitchen cabinet with a ceramic rooster that remained on the wall of one of the destroyed houses in Borodyanka after an air strike at the beginning of the full-scale Russian war went viral worldwide.

The locker and the rooster became a symbol of Ukrainians' endurance in the face of the crimes of the Russian occupiers.

The author of this design is Prokop Bydasiuk from Vasylkiv, known for making signature vases, decor, dishes, plates, toys, etc.

The rooster, made of Vasylkiv majolica (a type of ceramic), was presented to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his visit to Kyiv in April 2022.