Ukraine is celebrating the Defender of Ukraine Day. This is a holiday to honor courage and heroism of the defenders of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. It’s slogan is “Strength of the unbowed”. Starting from 2015, this day is considered a public holiday.
The holiday was approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine last year instead of the Soviet holiday Defender of the Motherland Day celebrated on February 23.
Ukrainian Institute of National Memory note that the holiday of Holy Protection has always been the main holiday for Ukrainian fighters – for the Cossacks, Ukrainian People’s Republic, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, etc.
October 14 was announced a day off. The President Petro Poroshenko believes that the Defender of Ukraine Day should be celebrated massively like Christmas, Easter or the Independence Day.
Apart from the Defender of Ukraine Day, Ukrainians celebrate the holiday of Protection of the Blessed Virgin and the day of .creation of the the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
Holiday concert, exhibitions, festivals and other festivities are planned for today all over the country.
