Did you know …

Dignity and Freedom Day was first celebrated on this date in Ukraine in 2014, marking the first anniversary of pro-European Union mass protests. November 21st became the official national day of observance in 2016.

Ukraine’s contemporary journey to full independence began in 1991 with the break-up of the former Soviet Union. Notable growing pains included the 2004 Orange Revolution protests which were a response to perceived electoral fraud. Then, about ten years later, mass demonstrations resulted in The Revolution of Dignity, often referred to as the Euromaidan demonstrations. These demonstrations followed the Ukrainian government’s decision to suspend preparations for signing the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement with the European Union, instead seeking closer economic relations with Russia. The Ukrainian people wanted nothing of this.

Ukraine’s struggle for independence is much older, being a long continuous journey over three centuries.

Image: stamp block from UkrPoshta: FREE. UNBREAKABLE. INVINCIBLE. “300 years of dreams of statehood; 105 years of struggle for free Ukraine; 31 years of building independence; 8 years of defense of sovereignty and borders. This stamp honours Ukrainians who have become real heroes for the whole world!”