Ukrainian Independence Day is celebrated annually by Ukrainians on August 24. Why do we love this holiday so much? Independence Day is the actual birthday of a free Ukraine, the day of creating an independent country that finally united its lands after numerous attempts and failures. However, few people consider how hard past generations of Ukrainians achieved this day. The country’s freedom resulted from struggle and numerous reforms, the signing of thousands of documents, and countless negotiations, ultimately leading to independence and the right to self-determination and national identity.
Independence Day of Ukraine – The Struggle and Triumph of an Entire Nation
Before proclaiming independence, Ukraine went through a long journey. The creation of a free country with its government, coat of arms, flag, currency, and army was constantly postponed, facing wars, repressions, and unreasonable decisions by rulers. The territories of modern Ukraine were long under the control of different states. Many ethnic groups, numerous languages, constant raids, and wars did not contribute to creating a stable statehood.
The lands were divided, and all attempts to unite and create a solid independent statehood faced many obstacles. Internal conflicts among various political forces and attacks by invaders prevented the development and creation of a full-fledged state with its army, language, money, and other symbols.
Massive empires tore apart Ukraine, but the signing of the Act of Independence finally became the legal confirmation of state sovereignty and the legitimacy of creating a free, indivisible Ukraine. It is worth noting that the international community quite positively supported the desire of the former Soviet republics to gain freedom.
Like other republics, Ukraine left the USSR quite peacefully and confirmed its legitimate right to self-determination to the world.

Main Milestones in Building a Free and Independent Ukraine
For those seriously interested in history, it is evident that Ukraine fought most fiercely for its sovereignty over the past century, although before that, Ukrainians also resisted empires and invaders. Before celebrating Ukrainian Independence Day, the Ukrainian people, unfortunately, experienced many difficult and terrible events.
The main steps towards a free Ukraine were:
- The creation of the Central Rada;
- The July Coup of 1917;
- The creation of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR);
- The signing of the Fourth Universal and the declaration of independence;
- The proclamation of the Hetmanate;
- The Directory’s counter-coup;
- The Unification of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR) and West Ukrainian People’s Republic (WUPR);
- The creation of Carpathian Ukraine.
The referendum concluded the long and complicated path of the Ukrainian state from divided lands to a full-fledged participant in international treaties and unions.
Independence Day – The Main Holiday of Ukraine
Ukrainian Independence Day is forever etched in history. Many more centuries will pass, but this event will remain the most significant in the life of the Ukrainian people. The proclamation of independence marked a new era. This event finally legally confirmed the right of Ukrainians to national revival and identification. Independent Ukraine allowed the realization of the dream of building a democratic, economically developed, and culturally elevated state. It was a turning point in Ukraine’s history and the achievement of millennia.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Declaration of State Sovereignty—a document that can be called the main precondition for separation from the USSR. It allowed our country to establish international relations independently of other Union republics, sign treaties, and exchange diplomatic and consular representatives. The republic’s leadership could more freely determine its course and plan the country’s development directions.
Ukrainian Independence Day became a state holiday on February 20, 1992. The Verkhovna Rada decreed that this national holiday be celebrated annually to confirm the historical significance of gaining independence.
The first country to confirm the legality of the former republic’s new status – Ukrainian independence – was its closest neighbor, Poland. Later, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, and 130 other countries worldwide recognized the creation of an independent Ukraine.
90.32% of voters supported the separation from the USSR. Therefore, Ukraine’s Independence Day is a nationwide holiday, as most of the state’s citizens sought independence.
Ludmila Khedyk is an experienced copywriter with over 11 years of freelancing expertise and a graduate of Uman National University of Horticulture. She collaborates with WeaveMoney, skillfully turning complex information into accessible insights. With a portfolio of more than 100,000 written works, Ludmila excels at making intricate topics both understandable and engaging.