Independence Day of Ukraine (, ) is a state holiday in Ukraine, celebrated on 24 AugustHow Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy by Anders Åslund, Peterson Institute for International Economics, 2009, (page 185) in commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of 1991.
History When Ukraine was still a Soviet republic, the Ukrainian diaspora traditionally recognized 22 January (the Declaration of Independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic in 1918) as Ukrainian Independence day.
The current form of the holiday was first celebrated on 16 July 1991, as the first anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine passed by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) in 1990.A History of Ukraine: The Land and Its Peoples by Paul Robert Magocsi, University of Toronto Press, 2010, (page 722/723)Citizens of Ukraine mark 1 year of state sovereignty, The Ukrainian Weekly (21 July 1991) Since the Declaration of Independence was issued on 24 August 1991, and confirmed by the referendum of 1 December 1991, the date of the holiday was changed.Ukraine Intelligence & Security Activities and Operations Handbook, International Business Publications, 2009, (page 268)
Legal framework (1990–1992) On 16 July 1990, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, which initially led to 16 July being designated as Independence Day in Ukrainian law. After the Act of Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on 24 August 1991 and confirmed by the nationwide referendum on 1 December 1991, the holiday's date was moved to 24 August by a subsequent parliamentary decision in 1992.
Traditions In 2013 the holiday was not particularly popular amongst the Ukrainian audience, in fact it was one of the least popular of the public holidays of Ukraine – only 12% considered it important or favorite. In 2021 this figure had grown to 37%.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine that continued on 24 February 2022, led to a reappraisal of the popularity of Independence Day in Ukraine. A March 2024 study by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that the popularity of Independence Day of Ukraine and Defenders Day had both almost more than doubled (from 37% to 64% and from 29% to 58%).
Public opinion Public perception of Independence Day in Ukraine has shifted significantly over the decades. In a 2013 poll by the Razumkov Centre, 61% of respondents considered it a holiday, 30.4% saw it as "not a holiday, but an ordinary day off", and 6.1% believed it should be a working day. By 2021, a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) survey found that 37% of Ukrainians considered Independence Day their favourite or one of their favourite holidays. Following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, the same KIIS study in March 2024 recorded a sharp rise in popularity — 64% named it among their favourite holidays, alongside Defenders Day (58%).
National Flag Day Beginning in 2004, 23 August is celebrated as National Flag Day.Ukraine celebrates National Flag Day , Xinhua News Agency (23 August 2012)Ceremony of hoisting Ukraine's national flag held at presidential administration , Kyiv Post (23 August 2011)
Parade Generally, but not every year, independence day is celebrated with a military parade held in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.Theoretical and Comparative Perspectives on Nationalism by Taras Kuzio, ibidem Press, 2007, (352)Language Policy and Discourse on Languages in Ukraine Under President Viktor Yanukovych by Michael Moser, ibidem Press, 2013, (page 102)Ukraine military parade marks 25 years of independence , BBC News (24 August 2016) In 2021, a military parade was held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, no military parade has taken place. However, to mark the 2023 Independence Day, destroyed Russian tanks and military vehicles were lined up in central Kyiv.Ukraine lines up destroyed Russian tanks in central Kyiv , Reuters (21 August 2023)
Celebrations
Chronology Year Location(s) Notable features Sources 1997 Kyiv (Chaika Airfield) Large-scale aviation show with UAF flypast; attended by President Leonid Kuchma 2006 Nationwide National mourning shifted main events to 26 August after Pulkovo Flight 612 crash 2021 Kyiv / Odesa 30th anniversary; >5,000 troops, 400 vehicles; multinational participation; Air Force flypast 2023 Kyiv Static display of destroyed Russian armour on Khreshchatyk under martial law
1997 The Chayka Aviation Parade was a large-scale aviation show dedicated to Independence Day that took place at Kyiv Chaika Airfield in 1997. It featured flypasts by personnel of the Ukrainian Air Force. The parade was attended by President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kuzmuk.Авиация и Время. — Вересень 1997. — с.30
2006 National celebrations of Ukraine's 15th Independence Day was postponed from 24 August to 26 August, as a three-day period of mourning was held following the deadly crash of Pulkovo Aviation Enterprise Flight 612 that occurred 22 August 2006. The crash in Donetsk Oblast killed 170, and was the deadliest aircraft incident in Ukraine until Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in 2014.
2016 After the annual military parade in Kyiv the "March of the Unconquered" was held by active members of Ukraine's volunteer battalions, relatives of those killed during the fighting in the Russo-Ukrainian War and family members of those killed during the Euromaidan uprising – known in Ukraine as the "Heavenly Hundred". Разом з військовим парадом у Києві влаштували "Марш нескорених" (The "March of the Unconquered" was Held along with the Military Parade in Kyiv), Ukrayinska Pravda (24 August 2016) According to the Ukrainian army the volume of artillery fire set off by the separatist forces of the war in Donbas during the 24-hour period of 24 August 2016 was the highest since the February 2015 Battle of Debaltseve.Heaviest fire since Debaltseve battle recorded yesterday, 3 WIA , Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (25 August 2016)Russian proxies intensify attacks on ATO forces on Independence Day , Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (25 August 2016)
Several Ukrainian cities held marches of people dressed in vyshyvanky (shirts with traditional Ukrainian embroidery). Ukrainians at home and abroad celebrated Independence Day , Ukrayinska Pravda (24 August 2015)
2019
On 10 July 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Facebook that the 2019 Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations will not include a military parade (for the first time since the parade's cancellation from 2010 to 2014) stating the following: "We have decided to allocate 300 mln hryvnias [nearly $12 mln] as bonus payments to our servicemen, i.e. fixed-term soldiers, cadets, sergeants, officers." Zelenskyy also mentioned that the government would take steps to "honor heroes" on Independence Day by highlighting the fact that the "format will be new". On 30 July, Zelenskyy's Head of the Presidential Administration Andriy Bohdan announced that a March of Dignity (Марш гідності) will take place in replacement of the annual parade. A separate march, known as the March of Defenders (Марш захисників) was also planned to be held by Ukrainian war veterans. The ceremony went on as planned and even incorporated elements of the annual parade such as the flag raising ceremony and the awarding of veterans. During his speech, Zelenskyy called for unity, saying "Ukrainian-speaking and Russian-speaking, regardless of age, gender, religion – we must be one people".
2020
In an Independence Day speech in 2020 President Zelenskyy said that there would never be military equipment on parade in Kyiv as long as the war in Donbas is ongoing, during which he said that it is "Where it is needed now." Zelenskyy stated that military parades would be held in the future "a parade of Ukrainian victory, when we will return all our people and all our territories." Zelensky told when there will be a military parade in Ukraine, Ukrayinska Pravda (24 August 2020)
The joint concert of Ukrainian stars following the ceremony was marked by scandal because various artists performing in it had continued to perform and/or accept awards in Russia, despite the Ukrainian Autonomous Republic of Crimea being annexed by Russia in 2014 and the alleged support of Russia for the separatist forces of the war in Donbas. Independence Day 2020: Zelensky's speech, "Slippers" and Defenders' March , Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (24 August 2020)Ukraine conflict: Deadly flare-up on eastern front line , BBC News (18 February 2020) It was also condemned that this concert took place during the March of Defenders (Марш захисників) commemorating the victims of the war in Donbas.
In an English language Independence Day address, Zelenskyy launched an information campaign to restart the Ukraine NOW brand.
2021
In 2021, Ukraine celebrated the 30th anniversary of its independence with three days of events. A company from Lviv developed a special 30th Anniversary logo and a new award known as the "National Legend" was announced, to be presented in a ceremony on 22 August. It was also announced that the first Summit of the Crimean Platform would take place on 23 August. A number of foreign leaders were invited to the 30th anniversary celebrations, including US president Joe Biden, Greek president Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Lithuanian president Gitanas Nausėda and Moldovan president Maia Sandu.
On 24 August a large military parade made its way through Kyiv past Maidan Nezalezhnosti, featuring Ukrainian Ground Forces, Special Operations Forces, and visiting units from several foreign armed forces. The parade included more than 5000 troops and 400 tanks and armoured vehicles. The event also included a fly-by of Ukrainian Air Force units over Kyiv. Simultaneously, Ukrainian Navy units were shown carrying out exercises at Odesa.Ukraine celebrates 30th independence anniversary with military parade , Euronews (24 August 2021) Visiting troops from Slovenia, Moldova, Poland, the United States of America and Canada marched with Ukrainian forces,Ukraine marches with NATO allies on 30th independence anniversary , France24 (24 August 2021) and two British Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons took part in the fly-by alongside four F-16 Fighting Falcons.
Delegates from 46 countries attended, including Polish President Andrzej Duda, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and Eastern Orthodox Church patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.
Immediately prior to the parade, President Zelenskyy addressed the crowd, calling for closer relationships with other ex-Soviet countries, European nations, and NATO.
2022
Independence Day in 2022 marked the sixth month since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia began. Celebration of the holiday was restricted within war-torn Ukraine under martial law, but large scale celebration of Ukraine's Independence was held internationally in support of the country.
In Ukraine Ukraine's Culture Ministry confirmed there would not be any public celebration to mark the holiday. Officials warned civilians against gathering in major cities, with President Zelenskyy stating "Russia may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel." Russia would attack on the day of anniversary, shelling a civilian train in Chaplyne, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing 25. The Russian defense ministry claimed it had targeted a military train using a single Iskander missile, and that the attack had successfully killed 200 Ukrainian soldiers.