Ukraine Marks Defenders Day, Honoring Soldiers Past and Present

Ukraine on Wednesday marked Defenders Day, a national holiday dedicated to honoring the men and women safeguarding the country’s independence, coinciding with the Christian feast of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin and the traditional Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks, The Gaze reports.

The holiday, established in 2014 by then-President Petro Poroshenko following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in Donbas, was originally celebrated on October 14. 

In July 2021, lawmakers renamed it to Defenders Day to emphasize gender equality and recognize the role of women in the military. 

A church calendar reform in 2023 shifted the observance to October 1, aligning it with the new date of the Intercession feast.

The Intercession of the Holy Virgin, one of Christianity’s major feasts, has long been associated with protection in times of war. According to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared during a siege of Constantinople in the 10th century, covering believers with her veil as a sign of divine protection. 

In Ukraine, the feast became the spiritual symbol of the Cossacks, who prayed to the Virgin before military campaigns and thanked her upon returning. 

The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) also chose October 14 – the date of the Intercession under the old calendar – as its founding day during World War II.

The full-scale Russian invasion has given Defenders Day heightened meaning as Ukraine fights to preserve its sovereignty. Ceremonies across the country include moments of silence for fallen soldiers, prayers for victory, and public events honoring veterans and active service members.

General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, said in his holiday address that the nation’s defenders had disproved the myth of Russia’s “invincible army.”

“For years, we were burdened with a victim’s complex – told about tears, defeats, and failures. But today’s defenders of Ukraine proved the opposite. You stopped Russian aggression and awakened the warrior spirit of our nation. This spirit is in your hearts – the spirit of victorious Ukrainian warriors,” Syrskyi declared.

He stressed that every soldier who gave their life for Ukraine’s freedom “is a stone in the foundation of eternal statehood” and urged Ukrainians to remember each fallen defender. 

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also paid tribute, thanking the armed forces for ensuring Ukraine’s past, present, and future.

“You are role models for our children and true heroes. I wish you strength and resilience on the path to lasting and just peace. We remember those in captivity and fight for their return. We bow our heads before those who gave their lives for the most important thing – freedom,” he said.

By uniting religious tradition, Cossack heritage, and the sacrifices of today’s soldiers, the holiday embodies the continuity of Ukraine’s struggle for independence and the collective determination to secure a sovereign future.