One day - four holidays.

Today, Friday, October 14, Ukrainians are celebrating an important holiday: the Day of Defenders and Defenders of Ukraine. In light of the full-scale bloody war unleashed by the Russian Federation, it has taken on a special meaning, as it is Ukrainian soldiers who are now defending the future of our country.

For Ukrainians, October 14 has many meanings. On this date there are four holidays.
Aside from the Day of defenders of Ukraine, there is also a religious holiday - the Intercession of the Holy Virgin Mary, the anniversary of the Ukrainian insurgent army (UPA) and the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks.

Cossacks played an important role in the development of the Ukrainian statehood and national idea in the society. The Cossacks appeared in the Ukrainian lands in the XV century and played an important role in the Eastern European history. And in the XVI century there was founded Zaporizhian Sich as a prototype of statehood.
In the 20th century, the traditions of the fight for Ukrainian independence were inherited by the warriors of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. This year will be the 80th anniversary of the UPA.
The Day of defenders and defenders of Ukraine correlates with this commemorative date, because now our state is again defending its independence, its right to freedom and identity.
Thus the very fact that these three holidays fall on the same day is already symbolic.

Today, when Ukraine is defending its independence in a full-scale war with the Russian Federation, the two anniversaries are closely intertwined. We want to show the inheritance of the struggle for statehood and military traditions, as well as the connection of generations that have embodied and embody this struggle.

How the Day of Defenders and defenders of Ukraine appeared
The Day of Defenders and Defenders of Ukraine actually replaced the Soviet February 23 (the so-called Day of Defender of the Fatherland).
Russia's invasion of Ukraine's sovereign territory in 2014, the criminal annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the war in Donbass changed military traditions. The celebration of February 23 has faded into oblivion.
A presidential decree in 2014 established a new state holiday - Defender of Ukraine Day. The date of its celebration - October 14 - was not chosen by chance, because on this day the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Day of the Cossacks are celebrated.
The holiday was established to honour the courage and heroism of defenders of independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, military traditions and victories of the Ukrainian people, to promote further strengthening of patriotic spirit in the society.

Although October 14 is a public holiday, this year it will not be a day off because of martial law.

And after the full-scale invasion of the Russian invaders on February 24, 2022, without exaggeration, the entire nation rose to defend Ukraine - some at the front and some on the home front.

Ukrainians now confront the aggressor on different fronts, each of which is important, because without that unity the defense would not be so successful.

That is why the Day of defenders and defenders of Ukraine has acquired a new meaning in modern conditions.

Photo: Ministry of Defense Press Service

We admire your courage. We are convinced that thanks to heroes like you, we will definitely achieve victory. Happy Defenders and Defenders of Ukraine Day! Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦