On May 21, 2026, to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of Symon Petliura, an educational historical tour titled “Symon Petliura: A Life for Independence” was held for young people in the Donetsk region, organized by the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education of the Regional State Administration in cooperation with the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory.
The main goal of the event was to reflect on the historical role of Simon Petliura, the Chief Ataman of the Ukrainian People’s Republic’s armed forces and head of the UPR Directory, whose name long struck fear into Soviet leaders and was subjected to discrediting through propaganda. During the tour, the young people had the opportunity to learn little-known facts about the life of the leader of the Ukrainian liberation movement, his state-building activities, his efforts to build a regular Ukrainian army, and his diplomatic struggle for Ukraine’s recognition on the international stage.
Iryna Reva, an expert at the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, emphasized that the ideals for which Symon Petliura fought and gave his life a century ago remain highly relevant today, as the current generation of Ukrainians is once again forced to take up arms to defend their sovereignty against the encroachments of that very same aggressor.
Active youth from the Donetsk region joined in a lively discussion, demonstrating their awareness of the importance of preserving historical memory and countering hostile information manipulation. The joint commemoration of Symon Petliura demonstrated that the region’s youth clearly identify with Ukraine’s state-building traditions, and that patriotic resolve and knowledge of their past serve as a solid foundation for our future Victory and the free development of an independent Ukraine.