On Sunday, 1 October, Ukrainians celebrate the Defenders Day, Cossacks Day and the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Intercession, or Pokrova.

The Defenders Day is a national holiday that was established on 14 October 2014 by a presidential decree as the Defender of Ukraine Day. It was celebrated on 14 October, but this year, the date was moved to 1 October due to the reform of the church calendar.

The Orthodox Church of Ukraine has decided to switch to the New Julian calendar from 1 September 2023. Thus, according to the new calendar, most Christians in Ukraine are already celebrating religious holidays – 13 days earlier. In particular, the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated on 1 October instead of 14 October, and the date of the Day of Defenders has been moved forward.

The need for such a national holiday became especially acute after Russia’s occupation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Ukrainian soldiers’ unprecedented courage and bravery on the frontline and the hundreds of lives sacrificed for their country required a worthy tribute from society and the state.

Today, on Defenders Day of Ukraine, a nationwide minute of silence was held nationwide at 9:00 a.m. in memory of the fallen soldiers.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to the memory of Ukrainian soldiers who gave their lives defending their homeland.

The Head of State laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen Defenders of Ukraine on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv.

Soldiers of the honour guard placed a wreath of flowers from the Ukrainian people at the Wall of Remembrance.

The editorial team of Gwara Media expresses sincere condolences to the families and friends of the fallen Ukrainian defenders.

GWARA’S CHOICE

From Miniatures Creator to National Guard Soldier: Story of Anton Derbilov. We recorded this interview with him in March 2023. On April 6, 2023, the soldier died in the battle for Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast. In his military life, Anton is a soldier in the National Guard. In civilian life, he is a musician and sculptor who made busts of prominent hetmans and generals for Ukraine and other countries. 

Kharkiv said goodbye to the poet and soldier Oleksiy Ivakin. Kharkiv poet and soldier of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade Oleksiy Ivakin was killed in action in the Zaporizhzhia sector. He passed away on September 6. However, the body was brought to Kharkiv only a few days ago.