What does independence mean for Ukraine? It wasn’t just granted; it was earned by the people’s will and enshrined in the Constitution. Now, facing an existential threat from Russia, the fight to protect this hard-won independence is more crucial than ever.
I remember nearly every Independence Day celebration in Ukraine over the past decade. For the 30th anniversary in 2021, Ukraine showcased its military might with a grand parade in Kyiv, while in Odesa, the Ukrainian Navy held a display in the Black Sea port. On that day, joy turned to awe as the An-225 Mriya (“Dream”), the world’s largest transport aircraft, soared overhead.
There are no grand parades now, no Mriya—Russia has destroyed it. Now, every day is a fight for Independence.
“No. It burned the plane, it burned the iron. It destroyed matter, not soul. The shell, not the essence. Not freedom. Not dignity. Not independence.”
# Coming to terms with the long-sought independence
After a grueling 24-hour session on June 28, 1996, Ukraine’s Parliament adopted the Constitution, declaring the nation sovereign, democratic, and lawful. This marked a defining moment in Ukraine’s cultural and political identity, though it also brought uncertainty.
For some, independence was a new, unfamiliar concept; for others, it is a natural fact that needs no justification. And those born after the Soviet era cannot even envision Ukraine as anything other than a sovereign, democratic state.
“We’ve been calling it what it is since February 24, 2022; back in 2014, it was still seen as a metaphor. But then it became undeniable. Today, the war for independence is no longer just a fact or an act; it’s an ongoing process.”
Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991. Now, 33 years later, Ukrainians are still relentlessly fighting for their freedom.
# Here are the 5 ways Ukrainians fight for independence
I am celebrating the Ukrainian independence today by donating to two campaigns: Jake Broe’s and Ukraine Matters’.
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What does independence mean for Ukraine? It wasn’t just granted; it was earned by the people’s will and enshrined in the Constitution. Now, facing an existential threat from Russia, the fight to protect this hard-won independence is more crucial than ever.
I remember nearly every Independence Day celebration in Ukraine over the past decade. For the 30th anniversary in 2021, Ukraine showcased its military might with a grand parade in Kyiv, while in Odesa, the Ukrainian Navy held a display in the Black Sea port. On that day, joy turned to awe as the An-225 Mriya (“Dream”), the world’s largest transport aircraft, soared overhead.
There are no grand parades now, no Mriya—Russia has destroyed it. Now, every day is a fight for Independence.
“Can we say that Russia has destroyed our dream?” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked in his [address](https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/promova-prezidenta-ukrayini-volodimira-zelenskogo-v-parlamen-73993#:~:text=Can%20we%20say%20that%20Russia,It%20destroyed%20matter%2C%20not%20soul.) to the Australian Parliament.
“No. It burned the plane, it burned the iron. It destroyed matter, not soul. The shell, not the essence. Not freedom. Not dignity. Not independence.”
# Coming to terms with the long-sought independence
After a grueling 24-hour session on June 28, 1996, Ukraine’s Parliament adopted the Constitution, declaring the nation sovereign, democratic, and lawful. This marked a defining moment in Ukraine’s cultural and political identity, though it also brought uncertainty.
For some, independence was a new, unfamiliar concept; for others, it is a natural fact that needs no justification. And those born after the Soviet era cannot even envision Ukraine as anything other than a sovereign, democratic state.
“This war is for independence,” said renowned Ukrainian writer and philosopher Oksana Zabuzhko in an [interview](https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/zabuzhko-mova-viyna-nezalegnist-evropa/32561319.html#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17243265549150&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.radiosvoboda.org%2Fa%2Fzabuzhko-mova-viyna-nezalegnist-evropa%2F32561319.html) with *Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty*.
“We’ve been calling it what it is since February 24, 2022; back in 2014, it was still seen as a metaphor. But then it became undeniable. Today, the war for independence is no longer just a fact or an act; it’s an ongoing process.”
Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 24, 1991. Now, 33 years later, Ukrainians are still relentlessly fighting for their freedom.
# Here are the 5 ways Ukrainians fight for independence
I am celebrating the Ukrainian independence today by donating to two campaigns: Jake Broe’s and Ukraine Matters’.
Everyone should watch today’s Zelensky speech, imo the best one yet: https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1827225718410871181
Dunno why it hasn’t been posted yet on reddit, is it disallowed because it’s a tweet or something?