The 31st Independence Day of Ukraine was celebrated in Rotterdam and The Hague, one of the major cities of the Netherlands, and in the capital city of Amsterdam.
The 31st Independence Day of Ukraine was celebrated in Rotterdam and The Hague, one of the major cities of the Netherlands, and in the capital city of Amsterdam.
Russia’s attacks on Ukraine were also protested at the events organized by different foundations and institutions.
Many participants gathered in front of the war memorial next to the Erasmus Bridge in the city of Rotterdam, carrying Ukrainian flags.
After the Independence Day and anti-war speeches, the participants walked to the bridge and held hands, giving a message of unity.
Ukrainian songs were also performed at the event.
“We are fighting not only for our independence, but also for the future of Europe”
Stanislava Tykhonova, who helped the organization and took refuge in the Netherlands three months ago due to the Russia-Ukraine war, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that Independence Day is very important to her.
“Unfortunately, we are not in our homeland and our country has been fighting for its independence for 6 months. We are fighting not only for our independence, but also for the future of Europe. We hope and know that victory will come. We are grateful to all the countries that support us and send weapons.” she said.
Sergiy Avramenko, who participated in the event and supported the organization, said that he has lived in the Netherlands for 30 years and that it is sad that Ukraine is remembered with war instead of good things.
Expressing that they have different feelings, Avramenko said that they celebrate the independence of their country on the one hand and they fight for war on the other.
Expressing that her mother is currently in the middle of the war in Ukraine and she is sad about it, Avramenko said:
“We are fighting for our freedom right now. There are groups in Ukraine, whether right or left, that think differently, but right now they are all united and united and trying to defeat the enemy. My hope is that after the victory that will come, which is the future, this unity will continue and not be broken again. ”
Ukraine’s Independence Day was also celebrated in The Hague and Amsterdam.
– Ukraine Independence Day
The Parliament of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic approved the document declaring Ukraine’s independence on August 24, 1991.
In a referendum held on December 1, 1991, 90 percent of Ukrainians voted for Ukraine’s independence from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.