Ukraine celebrates Day of Dignity and Freedom in tribute to past protests and courage of its citizens
Photo: from open sources
On November 21, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Dignity and Freedom.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation on the occasion in a video address, Rubryka reports, referring to the president's official website.
This day was established by the Presidential decree on November 13, 2014, in honor of two significant events in modern Ukrainian history:
- The Orange Revolution of 2004.
- The Revolution of Dignity in 2013.
The Day of Dignity and Freedom serves as a successor to the previously celebrated Day of Freedom, dedicated to the Orange Revolution from 2005 to 2011 on November 22, which was later canceled.
Specifically, on November 21, 2013, the first protest took place in response to the government's decision to abandon the course towards European integration and cancel the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.
Unlike the events of the Orange Revolution, this time, the defense of dignity and freedom cost the lives of many Ukrainian patriots: 106 people were killed, and over 2,000 were injured. In the spring of 2014, Russia launched armed aggression, accompanied by the occupation of Crimea and certain territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
For the second consecutive year, the Day of Dignity and Freedom is marked against the backdrop of Russia's full-fledged invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. Ukraine is once again fighting for its freedom and independence, defending itself against the aggressor.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation on the occasion of the Day of Dignity and Freedom.
"Dear Ukrainian people! European people! Today, we celebrate the Day of Dignity and Freedom. It is a national holiday established in honor of the beginning of two revolutions — 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity 10 years ago.
Ten years ago, we started a new chapter of the struggle. Ten years ago, Ukrainians launched their first counteroffensive. Against lawlessness, attempts to deprive us of a European future. Against our captivity. Ten years ago, people united not only against something but, above all, for themselves. Each for each. All those who, after the violent lawlessness, felt: this hits me too, it hurts me too, these are blows to justice and truth, freedom, to our common tomorrow," Zelensky stressed.
The president noted that a new stage of Ukrainian history is unfolding today. It depends on our generation which direction it will take, what will be written about us in history textbooks, and what our descendants will say about us.
"We are strong. We have to be strong. Because only the strong are believed, only the strong create the future. Only the strong can be united. United to become free. Free to be worthy. For the sake of new times. When the central squares of our cities will receive new and forever unchanged names. In honor of heroes. In honor of liberators. Mariupol, Berdiansk, Melitopol. In honor of the liberation of Donbas, Crimea. In honor of the reunification of Ukraine within its borders. In the history books, years and centuries later, the period of independence from 1991 will be written about as continuous.
Years and centuries later. When hearing about Ukraine as an integral part of Europe in schools, all future generations will ask: could it have been otherwise? There will be Victory Day alongside Independence Day, Statehood Day, Unity Day, and Dignity and Freedom Day in our calendar. Victory of Ukraine. Worthy and free people. With a capital letter.
Happy Day of Dignity and Freedom, great people! With a capital letter. Strong people of a strong country!" said Zelensky.
In Kyiv, on November 21 this year, a series of events will take place in honor of the Day of Dignity and Freedom. This includes laying flowers, honoring the memory of the fallen, prayers for Ukraine and fighters for its independence. As part of the event program, there will be a project called "Territory of Dignity in Augmented Reality: Museumification of Maidan Monuments," allowing everyone interested to see the ten most famous objects of the Revolution of Dignity in augmented reality — barricades, elements of the tent city, the "Yolka" construction, and more.
Moreover, the "Maidan Forum" will take place at the National Center "Ukrainian House" from November 21 to 26, from 11:00 to 19:00. Over the course of six days, it will feature an exhibition, "Maidan: Birth of a Dream. The First Battle," an open interactive area, a location with a video chronicle of Maidan, a cinema hall, and a discussion area.
As part of the forum, on November 21 at 18:30, the film "Euromaidan SOS" will be screened. On November 23 at 18:00, the film "Crimea SOS" will be presented.
Euromaidan, which began exactly ten years ago, became a significant catalyst for the active part of Ukrainian society. Numerous civic initiatives emerged during the protest, many of which are crucial and relevant today. Rubryka tells the stories of three of them: human rights, educational, and cinematographic. Read more in the article "Ten years of civil society development: how the initiatives born on Maidan of Dignity are working now."
