January 29 is a date engraved in the genetic code of the Ukrainian nation. Over a hundred years ago, young volunteers stopped the Bolshevik invasion at Kruty, buying time for the young state. Today, in 2026, this feat resonates in the hearts of Donetsk region's youth not just as history, but as a living example to follow.
On the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Heroes of Kruty, the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events of National-Patriotic Education of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, together with the Center for Unity and National Resistance platform, held a series of events covering various parts of Ukraine and dozens of communities in our region.
In the capital, the Youth Council of the Donetsk Regional State Administration initiated a commemorative event at Askold's Grave. Laying flowers at the monument to the Heroes of Kruty became a symbol of gratitude to the defenders of the past.
The event was made particularly symbolic by the commemoration of Dmytro Kotsyubailo (Da Vinci). The legendary commander, who went to the front at the age of 18, became the direct heir to the Heroes of Kruty in the 21st century. This gesture emphasized the main idea: the struggle for freedom has not stopped for a moment, and today's heroes are the same young men who chose honor over surrender more than a century ago.
A patriotic event called "Descendants of Heroes" was held in Dnipro. Within the walls of the historical museum, young people from Donetsk immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917-1921. Thematic exhibitions, documentary footage, and feature films helped participants not only learn facts, but also feel the spirit of the era. The event ended with a warm tea party, where young people discussed the parallels between the events of that time and the challenges of today in an informal atmosphere.
In Vinnytsia, at the Donetsk Regional Youth Center, a documentary film was screened and discussed. Participants discussed how historical memory becomes the foundation for our contemporary resistance.
The fire of memory was lit in dozens of communities in the Donetsk region. Andriivska, Bakhmutska, Bilozerska, Velykonovoselkovska, Vuhledarska, Hrodivska, Druzhkivska, Dobropilska, Komarska, Kurakhivska, Mariinska, Mykilsk, Mykolaivska, Myrnenska, Myrnohradska, Sartanska, Sviatohirsk, Selidivska, Staromlynivska, Khlibodarivska, and Shakivska communities joined in the commemoration. The formats varied from small meetings and seminars to large-scale online dialogues and lectures in a mixed format. The main thing remained unchanged: the realization that every Ukrainian today is part of a large chain of national resistance.
Today, the youth of Donetsk Oblast confidently continue the path of the Krutivtsi, knowing their history and understanding its lessons. The example of the heroes of 1918 inspires them to keep fighting, because it proves that courage and unity can stop any invasion.