From History to the Frontlines: Ukraine Celebrates Its Heroes

On Friday, May 23, Ukraine marks Heroes' Day, a commemoration dedicated to Ukrainian defenders,both men and women, who fight for the nation’s freedom and independence, CE Report quotes Ukrinform.

According to the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, the idea of Heroes' Day originated among Ukrainian nationalists. The holiday was officially established by the Second Grand Assembly of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) in April 1941 in Kraków, which decreed three organizational holidays: Unity Day (January 22), Heroes’ Day (May 23), and the Day of Struggle (August 31).

The date May 23 was chosen for a reason. It coincides with the deaths of prominent leaders in Ukraine’s struggle for independence: Mykola Mikhnovskyi, an ideologist of Ukrainian sovereignty who died under suspicious circumstances in May; and both Yevhen Konovalets (May 23) and Symon Petliura (May 25) were assassinated during this month.

During and after World War II, members of the Ukrainian liberation movement celebrated this day. Members of the OUN and its youth wings held private ceremonies, decorating rooms with Ukrainian flags and portraits of Mikhnovskyi, Konovalets, and Petliura. The rituals included moments of silence, public readings, brief speeches, and oaths by new members. These gatherings typically lasted about 30 minutes.

Where possible, public commemorations were also held. People gathered at the graves of local heroes, sang the Ukrainian national anthem, and gave speeches.

The holiday was especially significant among the Ukrainian diaspora, which used it to reinforce the historical continuity of Ukrainian military tradition, tracing heroism from Kyivan Rus and the Cossacks to the Ukrainian Galician Army, Sich Riflemen, Ukrainian People’s Republic Army, OUN, and UPA. These commemorations were seen as powerful tools for patriotic education and mobilization of future generations.

Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, Heroes’ Day has gained popularity, particularly in western regions. In 2014, large-scale celebrations were held in Volyn, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil regions.

While not officially recognized by the state, the tradition of honoring heroes on May 23 continues to grow, especially since 2014, when Ukraine began defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty in the war against Russian aggression.

Today, in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Heroes’ Day is not just a remembrance of past generations, but a tribute to modern defenders who continue to lay down their lives for Ukraine’s unity and independence.