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DEOn 21 November, Ukraine marks its Day of Dignity and Freedom which was established in 2014 to honour the beginning of two significant events in contemporary Ukrainian history – the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity of 2013.
It was on 21 November 2013, when Ukrainians started to hold the first protest rallies in response to the decision of the then government to stop the country’s movement towards European integration and abolish preparations for the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
However, unlike the events of the Orange Revolution, the defence of dignity and freedom led to the killing of 106 Ukrainian patriots killed and more than 2,000 injuries. In the spring of 2014, Russia unleashed military aggression by occupying Crimea and certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated everyone on the holiday, stressing that Ukrainians may be left without electricity and hot water but they can never be left without freedom.
“Everyone saw what kind of people we are! Willing to give the last. Willing to stand to the last. We have not lost dignity, bravery, faith in ourselves. We have united in order not to lose freedom. Not to lose independence. Not to lose Ukraine. We can be left without money, without gasoline, without hot water, without light but not without freedom – and it remains unchanged.”
The Head of State noted that hardened fighters were joined by musicians, actors, Olympic champions, IT specialists, scientists, entrepreneurs – hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who “did not get on the plane but stood in line at the military enlistment office.”
“And everyone saw what our civilians are capable of. Everyone saw what kind of citizens we have, how they can become a living wall on the path of the occupier’s military columns, stop and turn around enemy tanks and armoured personnel carriers with bare hands. Go to rallies under the occupation despite the gunshots and stun grenades. Preserve the Ukrainian flag and wait to finally meet the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the President said.
On the Day of Dignity and Freedom, he said, Ukrainians would gather on Independence Square, where dignity and freedom have always been protected, to celebrate the Day of Ukraine’s Victory: “We will overcome everything. Endure. Survive. Prevail! In a peaceful Kyiv, in a peaceful Ukraine, I will speak about the important. About the main thing. What remained unchanged. And will remain unchanged. Glory to Ukraine!”
The General Staff of the Armed Forces also congratulated Ukrainians on the holiday.
“On 21 November, we mark the Day of Dignity and Freedom – a holiday established to honour the patriotism and courage of citizens who rose to defend democratic values and the European choice of our people in 2004 and 2013,” the message reads.
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny called on Ukrainians to remember the price of freedom.
“Congratulations on the Day of Dignity and Freedom! The price of our freedom is high, let’s remember that!” Zaluzhny emphasised.
This year, the holiday is marked against the background of Russia’s full-scale invasion which began on 24 February. Ukraine again fights for its freedom and independence, defending itself from the aggressor.
Bohdan Marusyak
