Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his address to the nation on Independence Day from Kyiv's Sofiyska Square has promised to hold a military parade once the country regains control over all temporarily occupied territories.
The President noted that today, on August 24, as Ukraine is marking the 29th anniversary of its independence, awards will be handed to those "who multiplies our independence daily."
It is thanks to the military and defenders that Ukraine has preserved independence, Zelensky said, adding that today Ukrainians will be able to express their sincere praise and bow to all veterans and volunteers during their march along Khreshchatyk.
Zelensky has stressed that Ukrainian military hardware is now in the east of the country.
"I am sure that this is the way it should be because tanks, armored personnel carriers, and warplanes are not an attraction for Kyiv residents and capital city guests in a country that's defending its sovereignty up in arms. Military hardware should be on the front line, where it's needed now, rather than in a peaceful Kyiv – and this is the only way it should be if we respect our Army," Zelensky added.
Read alsoBelarus protests: defense minister warns of army use, Lukashenko shows resolve in propaganda video"We will definitely hold a parade in the future – a parade of Ukrainian victory, when we get all our people and all our territories back," the president stressed.
"When there is sustainable peace in our land, we will hold a big parade with all our troops and hardware, a parade after which no one else will even consider breaking peace in Ukraine, encroaching on its freedom and independence," the president added.
Meanwhile, the March of Defenders that is launching from Shevchenko Park in Kyiv has already gathered thousands of participants from all over Ukraine, many of whom are veterans of the Ukrainian-Russian war.
Armored personnel carriers, and warplanes are not an attraction for Kyiv residents and capital city guests in a country that's defending its sovereignty up in arms
Independence Day in Ukraine
- Ukraine celebrates Independence Day on August 24.
- The holiday was initially celebrated on July 16, 1991, as the first anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine passed by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, in 1990.
- Since the Declaration of Independence was issued on August 24, 1991, and confirmed by the referendum of December 1, 1991, the date of the holiday was changed.
- Ukraine's Independence Day has been considered an official state holiday since 1992.
