“United, independent, strong”: Ukraine celebrates Day of Unity

The Day of Unity of Ukraine, on January 22, commemorates the proclamation of the Unification Act of the Ukrainian People's Republic and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic in 1919. 

On this historic day 105 years ago, Ukrainian lands united for the first time in a single state: "The age-old dreams have come true, dreams that the best sons of Ukraine lived for and died for. From now on, the parts of a single Ukraine, separated for centuries, are united into one." Ukrainian unity spans both hemispheres today, resonating everywhere with words: "I'm Ukrainian." 

President Volodymyr Zelensky conveyed his greetings on Unity Day, highlighting the lessons of the past and the unity that has been achieved. He mentioned the two crucial lessons for all generations of the Ukrainian nation: "To gain your own statehood, you have to fight. To preserve it, you have to unite," Rubryka reports, citing the president's statement.

"The day has come when we all had to prove these two lessons have been learned. Every Ukrainian knows this day. Recalling it means there's no need to mention the year; the day and month suffice. It's February 24," President Zelensky said. "We demonstrated that unity and independence are genuine values for us, not just declarative. We didn't surrender our state; from the first day of the war, we showed that facing full-scale enemy aggression requires full-scale unity of the people. Not symbolically, not episodically, not in words, but on the front lines — in all directions of the fight against oppression. In all forms of the battle to preserve Ukraine. United, independent, strong."

Zelensky gave credit to all Ukrainians, who, starting in 1990, created living chains of unity, extending unity from west to east. On February 24, he said, Ukrainians once again joined hands, choosing not the chains of slavery but the chains of unity. 

"When we became family to each other. When Ukrainians from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro fought for Ukrainians in Donbas and Crimea, in the south and north. When Ukrainians from [western] Zakarpattia, Bukovyna, and Halychyna open their doors and shelter Ukrainians from Mariupol, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian mothers and children who, having lost their homes, are abroad making their contribution to the common resistance, gathering and sending what is needed here. When Ukrainians from every region work to protect every region.

"And to liberate every temporarily occupied part. When Ukrainians are waiting for us, Ukrainians continue to resist. Together, we will make Russia leave. The words of the Unification Act about uniting the detached parts of Ukraine will be heard again. They will become a reality. Today, every Ukrainian fights for every Ukrainian, proving that when all Ukrainians hold hands, they won't lift them up to surrender," Zelensky said.

The president also announced that he submitted to the parliament a key legislative project that will enable comprehensive changes to legislation and introduce multiple citizenship:

"We all fight. Today, it's not just about both banks of the Dnipro River. Ukrainian unity spans both hemispheres today, resonating everywhere on February 24: I am Ukrainian. It resonates on all continents where our people live. Those who, with the onset of full-scale war, regardless of their place of residence, birth, or passport, firmly said, 'I am Ukrainian.' They proved it with actions. Our multimillion diaspora and our lobbyists for Ukraine's interests worldwide. Those who collect, find, pack, and deliver everything needed for victory. Those who haven't forgotten their roots and won't let the world forget about Ukraine. Those in whose veins Ukrainian blood flows and in whose chest beats a free heart. Ukrainians by origin, who long ago proved that they are Ukrainians in spirit. And after many years of waiting, they finally get to be Ukrainians on their passports. Legally."

The new law will allow ethnic Ukrainians and their descendants from different countries worldwide to have Ukrainian citizenship, except the citizens of the aggressor country, Russia.

"Everyone who, during various waves of emigration, was forced to leave their homeland, ending up in Europe, the USA, Canada, Asian countries, Latin America; everyone who helps us despite hundreds and thousands of kilometers from their native land. 

"Foreign volunteers who stand up for Ukraine, all those who fight for Ukraine's freedom as for their native homeland. And Ukraine will become such for them.

"For everyone who can feel that being in Ukraine means being at home. Not as tourists but as citizens. Citizens of a great, united Ukraine," Zelensky said.

The president also reported signing a decree on the Territories of the Russian Federation historically inhabited by Ukrainians. "This is a return to the truth about our historical past for the sake of the Ukrainian future," he commented.

"Today, we need to take steps not only to strengthen the unity of Ukraine and our people but also to take actions for the unity of rights and freedoms, the truth about Ukrainians, the truth about us, and the truth about our history," the president said.

In conclusion, President Zelensky recalled the spring of 2022, when he saw the town of Bucha for the first time after the Russian occupation, where he wore a T-shirt with the words 'I am Ukrainian.' 

"And always, especially now, the words 'I am Ukrainian' have special meaning. Today, they are filled with our people's courage, pride, and resilience. The pain felt by every Ukrainian man and Ukrainian woman and, at the same time, the strength that helps us overcome everything. To conquer everything. To endure everything. Knowing and remembering that only strong Ukrainians can become united. And only united Ukrainians can be strong. Ukrainians worldwide. I'm Ukrainian. Happy Unity Day, dear people! Glory to Ukrainians! Glory to Ukraine!" he said.

Background

Today, Ukraine commemorates a crucial event in the history of statehood. On January 22, 1919, solemn gatherings took place on Sofiiska Square, where the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) united.

This unity was officially confirmed by the Universal of the Ukrainian People's Republic on Unity (Unification). The document proclaimed:

"Now, the long-separated parts of the unified Ukraine — the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (Galicia, Bukovina, Hungarian Ruthenia) and the Great Ukraine beyond the Dnipro — merge into one. The age-old dreams for which the best sons of Ukraine lived and died have come true. Now, there is one independent Ukrainian People's Republic."

Significantly, the date of the Unification Act was not coincidental. A year earlier, on January 22, 1918, the Ukrainian parliament, Central Rada, declared the independence of the UNR. On that day, the IV Universal was issued, containing provisions such as: 

• Proclamation of the independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
• Authorization to the People's Ministers' Council to conclude peace with the Central Powers.
• Declaration of a defensive war against Bolshevik Russia.
• Declaration of the foundations of internal socio-economic construction and outlining measures to end the war with the Central Powers.

Against the backdrop of the fall of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires, Ukrainian territories that were part of these empires managed to reunite in 1919. However, the actual unification was not completed. The struggle continued against the "White" and "Red" Russians; the governments and armies of the UNR and ZUNR acted separately, with differing geopolitical interests and goals.

In February 1919, the government institutions of the UNR were forced to leave Kyiv under pressure from the Bolshevik army. Later, Polish forces occupied most of the Western Ukrainian region, Romanian forces occupied Northern Bukovina, and Transcarpathia came under Czechoslovak rule.

However, the events of January 22, 1919, became pivotal in Ukraine's history and inspired generations to come to fight for freedom and independence. After the proclamation of the Unification Act, there could be no doubts about the integrity of the Ukrainian nation.

The holiday honors Unity or Sobornist, which Ukraine aspired to over 100 years ago and still fights for today. Unity is inseparable from statehood, sovereignty, and independence.

The term "Sobornist" has several meanings. It signifies the consolidation of all lands a nation inhabits into one state entity. It denotes the spiritual consolidation of all citizens and their unity, regardless of nationality. It also signifies the territorial integrity of the country.

For many years, hostile propaganda divided people into "Westerners" and "Easterners," imposing the belief that "the Bolsheviks invented Ukraine."

The events of 1919 debunk all these myths, but Ukrainians are once again forced to defend Unity in the struggle against Russian aggression. Today, Unity means the de-occupation of all territories seized by the Russian Federation and the reunification with Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea.

According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory (UINM), the slogan for Unity Day 2024 is "Our Unity — Our Weapon."

Unity involves not only remembering the shared past but also requires concerted cooperation for the future, both on the battlefield and in the rear, as stated in the UINM publication.

The main tradition of the holiday since the early 90s has been the "living chain."

As reported, on the occasion of Unity Day in Ukraine and the 105th anniversary of the Act, a national record was set in the center of Lviv by unfolding a 20-meter flag with signatures of soldiers and schoolchildren gathered from all over Ukraine and the front line.