Today, Ukraine celebrates Unity Day, which falls on January 22. This holiday is associated with the proclamation of the Act of Union of the Ukrainian People's Republic and the Western Ukrainian People's Republic in 1919.
The Day of Union has been recognized as an official holiday since 1999 due to its great political and historical significance – the unification of the UNR and the ZUNR to create a single Ukrainian state. The Act of Union defined the unionist aspirations of Ukrainians from both parts of the country and became the basis for Ukrainian statehood.
Another important moment was the declaration of independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991, which defined the modern history of the state. The first celebration of the Day of Unity took place in 1939 in Carpathian Ukraine, but it happened purely symbolically due to subsequent events, such as the occupation of Kyiv and other regions.
Subsequently, Ukrainians commemorated Unity Day with various events, including “human chains” symbolizing the unity of the nation. This holiday became an important support for national unity, especially in the face of external aggression, when the modern Russian Federation is trying to undermine Ukrainian statehood.
