Ukraine celebrates Independence Day: national holiday's history 

This was reported by Espreso.West.

Independence Day of Ukraine is the main state holiday of our country, which is celebrated every year on August 24 in honor of the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR of the Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine.  Independence Day was officially celebrated in 1992.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the republics that were part of it began to declare their independence. This also applies to Ukraine, so on July 16, 1990, the UPCP Supreme Council adopted the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine. On the same day, the parliament decided that the Independence Day of Ukraine will be celebrated on July 16.

"Taking into account the will of the Ukrainian people and their eternal desire for independence, confirming the historical significance of the adoption of the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Ukraine on July 16, 1990, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic decrees: To consider July 16 as the Day of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine and to celebrate it annually as a national national holiday  holiday of Ukraine".

On June 18, 1991, appropriate changes were made to Article 73 of the Labor Code of the Ukrainian SSR, as a result of which the following entry appeared in the list of holidays: "July 16 — Independence Day of Ukraine."

On August 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine, and on December 1, 1991, it was confirmed by the people at the All-Ukrainian referendum.

On February 20, 1992, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted a resolution "On the Independence Day of Ukraine":

"Taking into account the will of the Ukrainian people and their eternal desire for independence, confirming the historical significance of the adoption of the Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine on August 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine decrees:

1. To consider August 24 as the Independence Day of Ukraine and celebrate it annually as a public national holiday of Ukraine.

2. The resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR "On the Day of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine" dated July 16, 1990 shall be considered as having lost its validity.

Therefore, the Independence Day of Ukraine is celebrated every year on August 24.

In 2022, due to martial law, Ukrainians will not have an additional day off on Independence Day. This is due to the fact that on March 15, the Council adopted the law "On the organization of labor relations under martial law", which cancels the weekend for public holidays, their postponement if the holiday falls on a working day, and the reduction of the working day on the preceding holiday, which is a non-working day, for an hour.