On July 15, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, which coincides with the Day of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine.
According to Ukrinform, this national holiday was established by Presidential Decree No. 423/2021 on August 24, 2021, signed during the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.
The holiday is observed on the Day of the Christianization of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine, honoring the memory of the prominent state-builder and saint, Prince Volodymyr the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles.
In 2022 and 2023, the Day of Ukrainian Statehood was celebrated on July 28. However, starting in 2024, it is observed on July 15, following the transition of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church from the Julian to the Revised Julian calendar. Specifically, on July 14, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada voted to move the holiday from July 28 to July 15 due to its connection with the religious calendar and the calendar reform.
The Day of Ukrainian Statehood has its own symbol — four tridents — representing struggle, independence, history, and identity. The trident was the symbol of Prince Volodymyr the Great, during whose reign the Christianization of Kyivan Rus took place. This commemorative day serves as a reminder that Ukrainian statehood has a tradition spanning over a thousand years, with its origins in Kyivan Rus, a medieval state centered in Kyiv.
In peacetime, the Day of Ukrainian Statehood will be a public holiday. However, due to martial law and the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion, all additional public holidays have been officially suspended.
Photo: General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces / Facebook
Source: Ukraine marks Statehood Day
