Ukraine celebrates the 32nd anniversary of independence

Independence Day is celebrated in Ukraine today. Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union was proclaimed by the Verkhovna Rada of the then Ukrainian SSR on August 24, 1991, shortly after the defeat of the GKChP coup. It was confirmed in a referendum on December 1 of the same year.

This is the second Independence Day of Ukraine in the conditions of a large-scale Russian invasion. In most cities of the country, there will be no mass events dedicated to the holiday on this day. Instead of a parade, an exhibition of destroyed Russian equipment is being held on Khreshchatyk in Kyiv.

Congratulations on the holiday were published by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny.

“Today we celebrate the 32nd anniversary of our independence – the independence of Ukraine. The holiday of free people. The holiday of strong people. The holiday of the worthy. The holiday of equals. Ukrainian men and women. All in our country. This is a value for each of us, and we are fighting for it And in this struggle, everyone is important, because this is a fight for what is important to everyone. This is independent Ukraine,” Zelensky said. In his address, the President of Ukraine thanked all Ukrainians for their resilience, especially those “whom it is not possible to talk about in the news yet, whose names are known to few, but whose work is noticeable to everyone… who conducts the most complex operations.”

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Head of the EU Foreign Policy Department congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day Josep Borrell, other representatives of Western countries. Borrell noted that Ukraine and the EU have a “common future”. The previous evening, the buildings of the European Union were illuminated with yellow and blue – the colors of the flag of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin’s ally, Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, also congratulated Ukraine on Independence Day. “Having gained independence more than three decades ago, both countries have chosen independent ways of their development, building the future, for the sake of which we must create safe opportunities for the dignified coexistence of the entire region,” Lukashenko wrote, in particular, and urged “to use the value of our neighborhood for the sake of ending the confrontation “. Lukashenko gave Belarusian territory to the Russian military to strike Ukraine, Belarus provides logistical support to the Russian army. At the same time, Lukashenko has repeatedly said that he is ready to act as a “mediator”.