National Unification Day in Ukraine

By John Pidkowich

In January 1918, the Ukrainian People’s Republic (Ukrains’ka Narodna Respublika – UNR) was established and the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic was created on territories which had formed the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In December 1918, leaders of the two states signed a pre-uniting agreement. On January 22, 1919, the agreement, which is known as the Union Act or Act of Unification of the Ukrainian Lands (Akt Zluky Zemel’) was announced in Kyiv in Sofiyska Square.

Despite the fact that the newly-proclaimed Ukrainian State failed to assert independence in its struggle against Communist Bolshevik enemy forces, the Unification of Ukraine on January 22 remained one of the most important anniversaries to uphold the Ukrainian national idea. The world’s Ukrainian Diaspora kept Ukrainian national consciousness alive and began to celebrate January 22, the memory of which was a reaffirmation of the Ukrainian people’s right to statehood independence and freedom from tyranny and foreign domination. Recalling the January 22 milestone date is one step to honour those whose vision and sacrifices laid the stones for the pathway to Ukraine’s status today as an independent member of the world community of nations.

National Unification Day - January 22

 
President Victor Yushchenko attended an exhibition dedicated to Ukraine’s National Unification Day January 22 at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv. He was shown the Rushnyk of National Union and Roman Bonchuk’s painting “Mega-history of Ukraine”.

The Rushnyk of National Union is an embroidered linen 9 m long and 75 cm wide (roughly 18’ by 2.5’) which has been crafted by folk artists from all over Ukraine during 2007.

Roman Bonchuk’s painting “Mega-history of Ukraine” painted in 2007 is a 30 by 5 m canvas which depicts significant figures of the Ukrainian history – political figures, philosophers, writers and painters. They are all divided into 19 groups symbolizing 19 periods of the Ukrainian history - from Kyevan Rus to present.

Later, President Victor Yushchenko offered his best wishes to the Ukrainian nation on the occasion of National Unification Day.

Pointing to the significance of the date in Ukrainian history, Yushchenko stressed that renewal of Ukraine’s independence traces its roots back to the day when 89 years ago the Western Ukrainian National Republic and Ukrainian People’s Republic were officially united.

In an address in Kyiv’s Teacher’s House, the President said that in 2008, Ukraine should mobilize all political, business and social powers to transform confrontation into a creative force to reach appropriate standards of living for Ukrainian citizens. In that regard, the President took the opportunity to extol his recent legislative incentives. He informed those present that he had forwarded two draft laws to the Verkhovna Rada - the first, pronouncing National Unification Day a national holiday and the second, abolishing deputies’ immunity.

Also, President Victor Yushchenko participated in a flower laying ceremony near monuments to the distinguished Ukrainians – Poet Taras Shevchenko and Mykhailo Hrushevsky, first UNR President, on the occasion of National Unification Day.