Main points
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife honored the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, emphasizing the importance of the struggle for the independence and dignity of Ukraine.
- The head of the OP, Kyrylo Budanov, noted that the events of 2014 united Ukrainians and showed the importance of the struggle for freedom and dignity.
Ukraine honors the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred / Collage of Channel 24
On Friday, February 20, Ukraine commemorates the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. The events of 2014 have become a symbol of the people's struggle for dignity, the right to choose, and the future of the state.
President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote about this.
Zelenskyy honored the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena honored the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred on the 12th anniversary of the executions of participants in the Revolution of Dignity. The President emphasized that Ukrainians always defend their own – independence, dignity and the right to a free life. He noted that it was the people who gained freedom for the country, and emphasized the role of ordinary people who care about the future of Ukraine.
We remember what it cost in 2014. We honor the courage of every participant in the Revolution of Dignity, everyone who did not leave Maidan so that Ukraine would not be left without freedom,
– Zelenskyy emphasized.
He called for honoring the bright memory of all the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and every Ukrainian who gave his life for a free Ukraine.
The president concluded his words with the traditional slogan: “Glory to Ukraine.”
The head of the Ukrainian People's Liberation Army, Kyrylo Budanov, also joined in honoring the Heroes. He emphasized that this day is not just a date on the calendar, but a moment for remembrance and a deep awareness of who Ukrainians are and what the state should be like.
According to him, for the first time in this millennium, Ukrainians took to the Maidan to defend their freedom and the right to live in an independent country.
Yes, they were different – in age, professions, views. But they were all united by the main thing: responsibility for the future,
– Budanov emphasized.
He noted that those events changed Ukrainians themselves and showed that dignity is a choice that sometimes comes at a very high price. The memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred is our past, future, and present.
Budanov emphasized that freedom is not given by itself. It is fought for every day by those who are not ready to live without truth, dignity, and a future perspective.
What is known about the Day of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred?
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A peaceful protest by youth and students in 2013 over the cancellation of preparations for signing the Association Agreement with the European Union turned into a large-scale movement. The protesters accused the authorities of corruption, usurpation, and gross violations of basic human rights. The confrontation lasted for several months.
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To stop the crowd, the then authorities used force, throwing activists behind bars, using both security forces and hired criminals. The first victims at the hands of the authorities appeared in January, but the bloodiest days occurred in mid-February.
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On February 20, protesters, without weapons and proper protection, pushed back the security forces on Instytutska Street – they moved forward under sniper fire. Then the largest number of peaceful freedom-loving people died. The security forces retreated, the dictatorial regime fell, and the then president and his entourage fled the country.
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All the deceased participants in these events were called the Heavenly Hundred by the people. Officially, this mournful list includes 107 people.