Every year on January 22, Ukrainians around the world are celebrating the Day of Unification and Freedom Ukraine, paying tribute to the memory of years of struggle for freedom of the Ukrainian people and unification of their lands into one state.
In January 1918 the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR) was established; in October 1918, in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire - Western Ukrainian National Republic (ZUNR). In December 1918 in Fastiv (small town not far from Kyiv), the leaders of the UPR and ZUNR signed a pre-agreement of intent to unite the population and territory of both entities into one state.
On January 22, 1919, the Treaty named the „Act of Unification” was officially announced at the St. Sophia Square in Kyiv. The unification of the UPR and ZUNR in 1919 proved to some extent declaratory, and soon Ukraine was again separated.
Nevertheless, that association became a model for civilized democratic unification of territories into a single sovereign state, which was based on the historical self-consciousness of the community, the ideals of freedom and independence, voluntary will, one’s own political and material resources.
Civil action in 1919 left a deep mark on the historical memory of the Ukrainian people, the evidence of which was the first official celebration of Unification in January 1939 in the Carpathian Ukraine. In January 1990, on the day of the 71st anniversary of the Union of UPR and ZUNR, about three million of Ukrainians joined their hands, creating a „live chain” between Kyiv and Lviv.
Today, celebrating at the national level the Day of Unification and Freedom, Ukrainian people demonstrate a commitment to unity in the struggle for unification, freedom and independence of their country.