Today, Ukraine celebrates Unity Day - one of the most important dates in our national history, symbolizing the unbreakable aspiration of the Ukrainian people for unity, independence, and self-determination.

107 years ago, on 22 January 1919, a historic event took place on Sofia Square in Kyiv: the proclamation of the Act of Unification of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the West Ukrainian People’s Republic. This act reflected the will of the entire Ukrainian people to live in a single, united, and independent state.

The idea of unity has permeated the entire history of the Ukrainian nation. It inspired the struggle for independence in the 20th century, became the foundation for the restoration of statehood in 1991, and today unites all Ukrainians in resisting Russian aggression.

Russia’s current war of aggression against Ukraine is an attempt to destroy not only Ukrainian statehood but the very idea of Ukrainian unity. Russia seeks to divide Ukrainian society, undermine the country’s territorial integrity, and erase our national identity. Yet, as it was a century ago, Ukrainians from all regions of the country remain united in their devotion to a sovereign, independent Ukraine.

Today, Ukraine’s unity is not only a matter of historical memory but a living reality. It is reflected in the Ukrainian defenders from the East, West, North, and South who stand shoulder to shoulder to protect every inch of our land. It is millions of Ukrainians, regardless of origin, language, or faith, united in the struggle for freedom and a European future. It is all our people in temporarily occupied territories, including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, whom we remember and thank for resisting the occupiers and keeping Ukraine alive in their hearts. It is Ukrainian communities, citizens, and ethnic Ukrainians across all continents, every Ukrainian family in the world, preserving their identity and connection to their homeland and nation.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine continues to work to secure international support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders, including temporarily occupied territories, to strengthen the bonds of the global Ukrainian community with the state, and to promote the unity of our great nation.

We are grateful to all states and international partners who consistently support Ukraine, condemn Russian aggression, and refuse to recognize attempts to annex Ukrainian territories. Your solidarity strengthens our struggle for the full restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

On Unity Day, we honor all generations of Ukrainians who fought for the unity of our land. We thank our defenders who protect it today. We remember the heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine’s independence. And we are confident: Ukraine was, is, and will remain a united, sovereign, and free state on its own land.