Every year on November 21, Ukraine celebrates Dignity and Freedom Day. This memorable date was established by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 872/2014 of November 13, 2014, with the aim of affirming the ideals of freedom and democracy in Ukraine, honoring the patriotism and courage of citizens who stood up for democratic values, human rights and freedoms, national interests of the state, and its European choice.
Dignity and Freedom Day is not just a date on the calendar. It is a symbol of our resilience, our faith in a better future. It is a day when we remember those who gave their lives for the freedom of Ukraine.
Dignity and freedom are the portrait of a Ukrainian. Everyone – soldiers, rescuers, volunteers, doctors, farmers, railway workers, cooks, and designers. This is an unchanging characteristic of all of us as a people.
Our struggle is largely defined by the idea of Freedom, which has lived in the history of Ukraine since the days of the Cossacks, no matter how hard they tried to eradicate it during the several centuries of our state's existence under the Moscow yoke. On the Ukrainian Maidan, we learned once again to be dignified and free. With each Maidan, more and more citizens in our country came to understand the importance of values such as dignity and freedom. And today, they form the basis of our national idea, which has the power to unite the nation, mobilize it for defense, and inspire it to victory.
Every day that a soldier spends "at zero," when the enemy is once again repelled, is a Day of Dignity and Freedom. Every day when we donate to the Armed Forces, volunteer, support those in need, and work diligently for the development of Ukraine is a Day of Dignity and Freedom. And the day of our Victory will be a day of triumph for Dignity and Freedom.
Today, November 21, we honor the deeds of our heroes who stood up for the democratic values, rights, and freedoms of the Ukrainian people. Among the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred are residents of Donetsk Oblast: Serhiy Bondarev, Ivan Panteleev, Volodymyr Naumov, Lyudmila Sheremet, Volodymyr Rybak, Dmytro Chernyavsky... The people of Donetsk, sharing the values and demands of the participants in the Revolution of Dignity, took part in protests in Kyiv and on Shevchenko Square in Donetsk, demonstrating a high level of self-organisation. The Revolution of Dignity is a vivid example of the indomitable spirit of Ukrainians, their willingness to fight for justice and independence.
The highest tribute to those who sacrificed themselves for Ukraine is to preserve Ukraine, defend its independence, and carry the idea of freedom with dignity to future generations of Ukrainians.
May the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and all the defenders who gave their lives defending the independence of our state in the war against the aggressor live on. Let us remember everything that happened then and is happening now, let us remember all our heroes!
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!