Illinois Governor Declares August 2025 as Ukrainian Independence Month
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has officially proclaimed August 2025 as Ukrainian Independence Month, calling on all residents of the state to honor this significant occasion and remember those who sacrificed their lives for the freedom, prosperity, and well-being of future generations.
The Gaze reports this, referring to an announcement made by Maria Klymchak, Program Director of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, in a Facebook post earlier this week.
In his formal statement, Governor Pritzker highlighted the historic declaration of Ukraine’s independence by the Verkhovna Rada on August 24, 1991, which was later overwhelmingly endorsed by more than 90% of Ukrainian citizens in a nationwide referendum.
“Whereas Ukraine has always maintained a special relationship with the United States, particularly through the participation of Ukrainian soldiers in NATO peacekeeping and combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other regions,” the statement reads.
The governor also drew attention to the ongoing threats facing the language, rights, and culture of the Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea.
He expressed deep appreciation for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their allies, acknowledging their resilience and bravery in the face of continued aggression.
In addition, the governor emphasized the longstanding contributions of Ukrainian Americans to the cultural life of the United States, noting their steadfast preservation of identity and shared commitment to core American values – freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.
Governor Pritzker praised the generosity of the American people in welcoming Ukrainians displaced by war and encouraged Illinoisans to observe August as a time of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The initiative was spearheaded by the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), in partnership with other Ukrainian-American organizations.
Earlier this month, the UCCA also called on the broader Ukrainian diaspora in the United States to actively urge the White House and Congress to approve a comprehensive sanctions package against Russia.
Read more on The Gaze: Diaspora Diplomacy: How Ukrainian Americans Strengthen U.S.-Ukraine Ties