On July 15, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated August 24, 2021, No. 423 to affirm the more than thousand-year-old traditions of Ukrainian statehood-building.

The history of our statehood dates to the origins of the Ukrainian medieval state of Rus, the center of which was the city of Kyiv. The adoption of Christianity by Prince Volodymyr of Kyiv in 988 became a civilizational choice for Ukraine. This contributed to the rise of culture and education, as well as to the development of Cyrillic writing. It was on the day of honoring the memory of the outstanding state-founder Prince Volodymyr the Great of Kyiv and on the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus-Ukraine that the Day of Ukrainian Statehood was established.

The core of statehood is the will to self-determination, the historical experience of the people, its mentality and legal traditions. And the State is a means to ensure and guarantee the integral existence of the nation.

Throughout its long history, Ukrainians have not abandoned the struggle for freedom and statehood. Ukraine declared its first independence in the 20th century on January 22, 1918. Our independence was restored on August 24, 1991.

Several times in the 20th century Ukraine gained and lost sovereignty due to internal disagreements during external aggression. That is why national unity is a prerequisite for preserving statehood.

Awareness of the history of our statehood throughout its entire period is a powerful force against manipulation of historical facts in view of the Russian information war against Ukraine. Genuine history refutes the fakes about a “united people” and “Ukraine is an artificial state,” so the current war is not only a struggle for the future of our state, but also for its past, national independence and identity.