Today, Armed Forces of Ukraine celebrate its 30th anniversary: celebrations will take place simultaneously in 6 cities

30 years ago, on December 6, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law "On the Armed Forces of Ukraine," "On Defense of Ukraine," and on December 13, the Concept of Defense and Construction of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The date of the celebration was set per the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of October 19, 1993.

Ukraine inherited one of the most powerful groups of troops in Europe from the Soviet Union, equipped with nuclear weapons and relatively modern models of weapons and military equipment. But it is no secret that after over 20 years of independence, the Ukrainian army has been almost destroyed.

To establish itself as a nuclear-free and peaceful country in the 1990s, it lost its stockpile of nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum, which was supposed to guarantee security from the United States and the Russian Federation. Also under the Massandra Accords, Ukraine gave Russia most of the Black Sea Fleet, leaving 18.3% of its volume.

For decades, there have been massive staff reductions, with some in the military desperately abandoning service without seeing any prospects in the military. In addition to internal factors, external ones were added: all this time Ukraine had to overcome the insane pressure of Moscow, which strongly opposed the creation of a capable Armed Forces in our country.

A turning point in the history of the modern Ukrainian army was the events of 2013-2014: the Revolution of Dignity, the occupation of Crimea, and parts of Donbas. And despite the total ruin in the army, betrayals, losses, insane pressure, and insidiousness of the enemy, the Ukrainian military managed to defend the independence of the homeland and protect their people from the aggressor.

Our army is currently regaining its combat capability, and Ukraine has announced its intention to join NATO.

How the Armed Forces will celebrate its 30th anniversary

Celebrations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be held on Monday in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, Lviv, Odesa, and the military town of Ozerne in Zhytomyr region with the participation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces.

According to the website of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the celebrations will begin simultaneously on December 6 at 18.00, and as part of the celebration, there will be a teleconference between these settlements. In Kharkiv, the events will take place on Svobody Square; in Odesa, near the sea station, in Kramatorsk, on Myru Square; in Lviv, near the Sahaidachny National Academy of Land Forces at the intersection of Heroiv Maidanu and Stryiska streets; in Kyiv, on Mykhailivska Street.

Demonstrations of the latest models of weapons and military equipment will take place, as well as ceremonies of awarding battle flags and honorary titles to military units, awarding servicemen with state awards. Performances of military bands and other entertainment events are planned.

Zelenskyy will take part in ceremonial events in Kharkiv dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Armed Forces, which will take place on Svobody Square. Together with the President, congratulations will be conveyed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi. A military march and transfer of equipment to combat brigades will take place on the main square of Kharkiv: 3 T-64BV tanks, 10 BTR-4E armored personnel carriers, and 10 Kozak-2M1 armored vehicles.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov will take over the TV baton in Odesa. With his participation, there will be a ceremony of joining the 21st patrol boat "Island" in the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the transfer of other equipment.

In Kramatorsk, Joint Forces Commander Oleksandr Pavliuk will join the teleconference. In this city, 34 units of Kozak-2m1 cars will be solemnly handed over to the military.

A Mi-8 helicopter and one L-39, Su-27, and An-26 aircraft will be handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ozerne.

In Lviv, Kyiv, and Odesa, representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive 15, 13, and 12 HMMWV vehicles, respectively.

The program of celebrations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, concerts, informal communication, treats with army porridge, and tea for everyone who will visit the holiday on December 6 at 18.00.

The Druha Rika band will perform in Kharkiv, Pianoboy in Odesa, Brutto in Kramatorsk, Sky in Lviv, and Antytila in Kyiv.