Whales and penguins. Ukrainian polar explorers show what is depicted on embroidered shirts

The participants of the Ukrainian Antarctic expedition at the Akademik Vernadsky station joined the World Embroidery Shirt Day, which is celebrated on May 21 on the third Thursday of the month.

The National Antarctic Science Center told about the tradition of wearing special embroidered shirts created for polar explorers.

For the team of the 31st Ukrainian Antarctic expedition in 2026, the Ukrainian ethnobrand Hrushenka produced and handed over embroidered shirts. The brand's website states that 10% of the proceeds from the sale of similar products are directed to support the "combat penguins" - Ukrainian polar explorers who serve in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The design of the embroidered shirts for polar explorers was developed in 2018 together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Since then, it has been used during holidays, writing a dictation on national unity and meeting guests at the station.

The center specified that the ornaments on the embroidered shirts contain images of penguins, whales and cormorants, as well as the symbol of the station with two palm trees, the sun and the V sign (Victory). Initially, the model was made in white and blue, later versions appeared in blue-yellow, white-red-black and green-yellow colors.

Recall that Ukraine is asking the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to include Ukrainian embroidered shirt in the cultural heritage of humanity.