On August 24, Ukrainians around the world united to mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence. The Ukrainian community in Armenia also joined in celebrating this significant milestone.
Initiated by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Armenia, a ceremonial gathering took place in Yerevan at the monument to Taras Shevchenko, which was draped with the Ukrainian flag for the occasion. Joining representatives of the diplomatic mission were members of Ukrainian organizations—including the Ukrainian Forum and the NGO “Ukrainians in Armenia”—as well as faculty and students from the Yerevan Educational and Scientific Institute of ZNU, members of the local Ukrainian community, friends of Ukraine, and supportive citizens of Armenia.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Mykhailo Ovramets, First Secretary of the Embassy, and Olena Shevchuk, Head of the NGO “Ukrainians in Armenia” and Advisor to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights in Armenia.
Attendees honored the memory of the Great Kobzar by laying flowers at his monument. A particularly symbolic moment was the joint singing of the National Anthem of Ukraine, which echoed far from Ukrainian soil that day, binding everyone present in a shared sense of belonging to Ukraine.
A central highlight of the event was the “Chain of Unity” campaign. Holding hands, participants formed a human chain that symbolized Ukrainian unity, resilience, and a strong bond between generations.
For Ukrainians forced far from their homeland by the war, such gatherings hold special meaning. They help preserve national memory, culture, and traditions, offer mutual support, and reinforce the belief that distance cannot divide people united by love for Ukraine.
Thirty-five years of Independence is more than just a key date in the nation’s history. It is a story of struggle, choice, courage, and people who, generation after generation, stood up for Ukraine’s right to be free.
This day served as another reminder that Ukrainian unity knows no borders. Wherever Ukrainians live today, they are brought together by a shared history, culture, memory, and faith in the future of their country. And as long as a Ukrainian heart beats for Ukraine, its independence lives on in each of us.
Ukraine is united everywhere.
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Author: Aida Stepanchuk
Photo: from the author’s archive