No military parade: Ukraine marks Independence Day

The 28th Independence Day of Ukraine, a state holiday celebrated on Aug. 24

The Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was adopted by the Parliament on August 24th, 1991. Now this day is one of the most important holidays in Ukraine, celebrated countrywide with parades, concerts, fireworks, fairs, charity fundraisers.

Usually, Independence Day was celebrated with a military parade on Khreschatyk. This year government official decided to commemorate the day Ukraine became independent in a different way.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi ordered to assign money from the state budget and award the military with money prizes; contract servicemen will get 80 dollars each, while conscripts and cadets will get 40 USD each.

The Office of the President also organized the Dignity March, which involved veterans of Donbas conflict, medics, teachers, athletes, diplomats, and volunteers.

«I love Ukraine — I was born here. I love our flag and when he is flying victoriously. I love our anthem as it is our main hit, What other song is known and is sung by everybody like this one? I love our land, as every corner of Ukraine is a great family,»  — Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyi stated during the Dignity March.

He added that this love is as strong as love to mother.

There was also the March of Defenders of Ukraine. The event incorporated many combat veterans, families of the fallen warriors and civilians who came to express their gratitude. The March included 20 blocks with 12 people each and moved from Shevchenko Park, through Bessarabska Square to Khreshchatyk Street and Maidan Nezalezhnosti, then to St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, where a prayer service was held.

Some facts about Ukraine

Poland was the first country in the World to recognize Ukrainian independence. The relations have been improving since, with Poland and Ukraine forming a strong strategic partnership. Various controversies from their shared history occasionally resurface in Polish-Ukrainian relations, but they are not having a major influence on the bilateral relations of Poland and Ukraine.

Ukraine’s flag is commonly referred to as yellow and light blue (жовто-блакитний in Ukrainian). Although many Ukrainians use this expression, it is to be noted that the current flag, in reality, is blue (the upper band) and yellow (the lower band). Prior to the current form of Ukraine’s national flag, its bands switched places several times. The first most solid proof of yellow and blue colors could be traced as far as the 1410 Battle of Grunwald, where warriors who were recruited from the current Ukrainian territories waved banners featuring both colors. Since then, the flag has changed its outlook many times. Eventually, the Constitution of Ukraine, which was adopted in 1996, stated that «the State Flag of Ukraine is a banner of two equally sized horizontal bands of blue and yellow color.

The modern «trident» symbol was adopted as the coat of arms of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in February 1918. The design has precedents in seals of the Kyiv Rus’. This was stamped on the gold and silver coins issued by Prince Volodymyr the Great (980–1015). In 1996, Article 20 of the Constitution of Ukraine officially approved the yellow trident as the coat of arms of Ukraine.

As we reported earlier, 15th anniversary: Ukraine celebrates National Flag Day.