On August 24, 1991, Ukraine’s parliament adopted The Act of Declaration of Independence, thus freeing the country from the USSR. Twenty-three years later, Ukraine is still fighting against Russia, but the war in the east and tensions with Russia did not stop Ukrainians all over the world from celebrating their independence.
In Kiev, signs of the Euromaidan protest are gone. Instead, blue and yellow flags waved in the air against a blue sky in Independence Square. Buildings burned during Euromaidan were covered with blue and yellow. People dressed in “garlands of flowers and embroidered vyshyvankas,” which are traditional Ukrainian clothes with Ukrainian ethnic embroidery.
Meanwhile on Kiev’s Mikhailovskaya square pic.twitter.com/hK9Ugzc0MT
— Maria Antonova (@mashant) August 24, 2014
International solidarity MT @shaunwalker7: African students in Ukrainian colours out in Kiev for Independence Day pic.twitter.com/6VJBTfHNuR
— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) August 24, 2014
Black Ukrainians celebrate #Ukraine independence day in Sofievska Sq in Kiev pic.twitter.com/gZ3SlLLssc
— Petr Shelomovskiy (@shelomovskiy) August 24, 2014
Patriotic cat on Independence Day. Kyiv, #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/UWDjskAyLw
— Andrea Chalupa (@AndreaChalupa) August 24, 2014
#Ukraine Independence Day military parade about to kick off in #Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/YoegluP2tg
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) August 24, 2014
Kyiv’s idea of an Independance Day https://t.co/FKJ5fwzuzG EMPR News #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/XbQTY23Wiw
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) August 24, 2014
While shaking hands w ppl after #Ukraine #IndependenceDay parade in central #Kyiv @poroshenko almost looses his watch pic.twitter.com/WVIU1f89lA
— Volodymyr Solohub (@v_solohub) August 24, 2014
NOW – #IndependenceDay mil parade is over – ppl walking en masse in central #Kyiv & singing Nat anthem pic.twitter.com/swipyGiTFN
— Volodymyr Solohub (@v_solohub) August 24, 2014
For the first time since 2009, Kiev held a military Independence Day parade. Former Russia-backed President Viktor Yanukovych cancelled them in 2010 to save money. People criticized President Petro Poroshenko’s decision to hold a military parade because the army should be in the east to fight the separatists. According to Poroshenko, the army commanders approved the parade and said the soldiers will return to the east after celebrations.
Military parade today in #Kyiv. I agree that it was necessary – for the army morale, not people’s entertainment. pic.twitter.com/YPEO9xjqpd
— Olga Rudenko (@olya_rudenko) August 24, 2014
Mil equipment during #Ukraine #IndependenceDay parade in central #Kyiv pic.twitter.com/lzYTTdIXpW
— Volodymyr Solohub (@v_solohub) August 24, 2014
Soldiers who fought in E.#Ukraine marching during #IndependenceDay mil parade in central #Kyiv pic.twitter.com/sploy4In0j
— Volodymyr Solohub (@v_solohub) August 24, 2014
NOW #Ukraine #IndependenceDay mil parade finally kicks off in central #Kyiv – let’s hope nobody faints this time pic.twitter.com/LwviHQCD5R
— Volodymyr Solohub (@v_solohub) August 24, 2014
Poroshenko and his family placed wreaths at the shrine for the 100 people killed by police during the Euromaidan protests before the parade. Out of the 1,500 service personnel, 120 men witnessed “action on the eastern front in areas near rebel-strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk.” Poroshenko spoke to the crowd as well.
Tribute to Heaven’s Hundred on #IndependenceDay by @poroshenko & wife pic.twitter.com/8qzLPy6DTJ ‘EMPR
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) August 24, 2014
Special thanks to volunteers who supported #Ukrainian army from day1 of mil conflict in E.#Ukraine @poroshenko speech pic.twitter.com/RhCwQ0hEa5
— Volodymyr Solohub (@v_solohub) August 24, 2014
“Never in 23 years has this day been so majestic as today,” he said. “People have never celebrated it as sincerely as today, with Ukrainian flag in every window, on every balcony. And all of it is happening despite hard times for the country. The war against foreign aggression. For Ukraine, for its will, dignity and glory, for the people. For independence.”
Poroshenko announced a $3 billion on military spending.
“We must always be ready to defend independence,” he said. “We will manage to defend our independence, life and the security of everyone, our right to live freely on our Ukrainian land at the cost of colossal efforts of the entire nation.”
After Kiev, Poroshenko flew to Odessa.
Watch the naval parade in #Odessa live via @radiosvoboda http://t.co/aXkturX3oY
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) August 24, 2014
After speaking at Independence Day event in Kyiv this morn, @Poroshenko jetted off to the Black Sea city of Odessa https://t.co/IaXdoXxXmC
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) August 24, 2014
#Odesa‘s 1st ever naval parade on occasion f #IndependenceDay, Prez @poroshenko attends https://t.co/ltFzvntgYX ‘EMPR pic.twitter.com/l0Mxb4J1x2
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) August 24, 2014
Missile boat Pryluky was one of first redeployed from #Crimea this year, today is at #Odesa parade, @poroshenko pic.twitter.com/W93KkzHsJ6 ‘EMPR
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) August 24, 2014