Ukraine Celebrates First National Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity

Ukraine marked the first-ever National Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity with a nationwide forum and symbolic tree-planting ceremony held at the M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv. 

Representatives of Ukraine’s national minorities and Indigenous peoples planted over 30 trees to establish the Garden of Interethnic Harmony as a living tribute to the unity and cultural richness of the Ukrainian people, The Gaze reports, citing Ukrinform.

The event was attended by government officials, including Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi, who emphasized the significance of the occasion: “Celebrating the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity is vitally important for our country. In diversity lies Ukraine’s richness, and in unity — its strength.”

Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Oleh Nemchinov reminded participants that this day is also an opportunity to honor those who lost their lives in the war and those still held in Russian captivity. 

“The fact that we are marking this day for the first time speaks to one thing only: we are united — united in the ranks of our security and defense forces. There are no Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, Bulgarians, Romanians, or Hungarians — there are only warriors defending the state (…) And all are political Ukrainians,” he said.

The Garden of Interethnic Harmony was symbolically launched by the planting of two poplars by government officials. Representatives of minority communities and Indigenous groups added over 30 more trees, including plum, apple, linden, and magnolia.

Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, also marked the occasion in a statement: “Today, on May 21, we celebrate the first Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity. During a war that the enemy tries to justify as a ‘defense’ of cultures, we’ve proven: real respect means acceptance, not imposition. National communities and Indigenous peoples not only preserve their traditions — they defend the state shoulder to shoulder with all Ukrainians.”

The commemorative date was established to strengthen national unity, affirm Ukrainian civic and national identity, support the cultural development of Indigenous peoples and national minorities, and honor their contributions to Ukraine’s sovereignty and resistance against Russian aggression.

Read more on The Gaze: Why Russia Did and Does Persecute Crimean Tatars: Past Meets Present