Ceremonial events dedicated to Independence Day take place in Kyiv’s Sophia Square

The ceremonial events dedicated to Independence Day of Ukraine have taken place in Kyiv’s Sophia Square with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, foreign high-ranking officials and the military.

Ukrainian government officials, military command, heads of religious denominations, and diplomats were also present at the events, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

The ceremonial events started with the performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine and the speech delivered by the Head of State.

“Thirty-two years of continuous independence, which will continue and will not be broken, and which Ukrainians will not let go of their hands,” Zelensky said.

The Head of State emphasized that Ukrainians will definitely win.

“We remember what the Ukrainian people went through. We see what is threatening. We are fighting against the enemy and we know that we can win and we will win. Ukrainian children in Ukrainian squares and streets will celebrate independence in the same way, our grandchildren will celebrate, their grandchildren will celebrate in the same way together with friends of our state, with allies and partners of Ukraine, whom Ukraine will always choose on its own,” Zelensky stressed.

President Zelensky presented state awards, mainly to the military, as well as handed over battle flags to military units and awards ‘For Courage and Bravery’.

In addition to the President of Ukraine, congratulatory speeches were delivered by President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, and Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić.

The leaders of Lithuania and Portugal delivered their speeches in Ukrainian.

Those present at the ceremonial events observed a minute of silence in memory of all Ukrainian heroes of different times, who had given their lives for Ukraine.

A reminder that, on August 24, Ukraine marks its Independence Day.

Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine