A heavy sweat odor fills the central Odesa rehearsal hall, where dozens of black and white-clad members of the city's Youth Dance Troupe pivot and clap hands in sync to strains of folk music.

"This piece is about Ukraine and our independence which we're struggling with nowadays, because of the Russian invaders who attacked our land," says Yeffin Kogan, a choreographer with the dance troupe.

The Youth Troupe is scheduled to perform the piece "at a public, outdoor venue somewhere in Odesa" on August 24 - Ukraine's Independence Day.

"We're not announcing performance venues in advance for security reasons. We don't want performances targeted," Oleg Brindak, Odesa's deputy mayor tells CGTN Europe.

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This year, the anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the former Soviet Union is also the six-month anniversary of Russia's offensive of Ukraine. Military parades and mass gatherings have been canceled due to the ongoing war but the celebration is still is the focus on Wednesday.

"There will be a separate day for memorializing and honoring the fallen soldiers of this conflict," explains Brindak. "Independence Day is reserved for marking that important event in Ukraine's history that is so relevant now," he adds.

On August 24, 1991, Ukraine's parliament approved the country's independence. A Soviet Republic at the time, President at the time Boris Yeltsin agreed to the move and Ukrainians who at the time wanted independence cited centuries-old Russian repression.

In December of the same year, Ukraine was globally recognized as an independent state.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly lamented the Soviet Union's collapse and claims Ukraine is fundamentally part of Russia. Russia's advance into Ukraine on February 24 is partially motivated by those beliefs. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have reportedly been killed in the conflict since it erupted on February 24 this year.

Kyiv claims intelligence reports revealing possible Russian plans to launch missiles on major population centers on August 24 prompted the government to issue warnings and cancel celebrations and performances.

"We're being told to stick close to our bomb shelters and to go down into them if we hear air raid sirens," said Andrey, an Odesa local.

Among the canceled productions is The Youth Dance Troupe routine. "We are postponing - not completely canceling," explains the city's deputy mayor. "Eventually all these performances will happen. Just not on August 24."