Ukraine Celebrates Statehood Day
Today, Ukraine is celebrating its Independence Day, which was established by a decree from the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on August 24, 2021.
"Our statehood is our response to the need for security and peace for Ukraine. Statehood is difficult to defend, but even harder to regain if lost," President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his greeting.
In his Twitter Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, congratulated Ukraine on the occasion and assured continued support. "Today, I join the brave Ukrainians in celebrating Independence Day while Russia continues its aggressive war against the people of Ukraine, influencing the entire world," remarked Charles Michel.
He emphasized that the EU stands by Ukraine and will continue to support it "as much as needed."
Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, also extended in Twitter her greetings in Ukrainian. "By joining in the celebration of Independence Day, we reaffirm our solidarity with those who are fighting to defend our values - freedom, democracy, and peace," she wrote.
In addition to Statehood Day, today also marks the Day of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine and the Day of Remembrance of St. Volodymyr, the Equal-to-the-Apostles, the Prince of Kyiv.
In 2023, all three holidays are celebrated on July 28. However, starting next year, they will be observed on July 15 due to the transition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church to the new Julian calendar.
The Day of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine was established within the framework of celebrating the 1020th anniversary of the baptism of Kyivan Rus, according to the decree of President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko on July 25, 2008, titled "On the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine."
It commemorates the memory of St. Volodymyr, the Equal-to-the-Apostles, who initiated the baptism of Rus in 988 and contributed to the formation of the Kyiv Metropolis under the patronage of the Patriarch of Constantinople. The legacy of Rus includes the coat of arms (trident), the currency (hryvnia), and most importantly, Kyiv as the political and cultural center of Ukraine.
Statehood Day serves as a reminder that Ukrainian statehood has a tradition spanning over a thousand years, with its origins in the medieval state of Rus, with Kyiv at its center.
In his message, the head of state also emphasized that Ukraine's victory should be such that any attempts by the enemy to return to Ukrainian land do not go beyond the sick fantasies of madmen conceiving such plans.