The Office of the President of Ukraine shared updates on the events marking Ukraine’s Independence Day.

Firstly, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska paid their respects to the fallen Ukrainian heroes. They walked along the alley in memory of the fallen soldiers and laid flowers at the Wall of Memory.

Later, a prayer for Ukraine was held at St. Sophia Cathedral. Churches and religious organizations said a joint prayer for our country and the soldiers who defend it.

There were also Independence Day celebrations on St. Sophia Square. Vice Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk was there.

Polish President Andrzej Duda and Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė came to Ukraine to congratulate the country and its people on the holiday.

“Ukraine will always be independent, and that’s not up for debate. We all gave the same answer—and this is a historic answer—thanks to our unity, courage, and joint work. The answer to whether Ukraine should exist or Ukrainians should exist. When external aggression poses such a question to us, to our nation, everything depends on millions of people, each of whom determines the fate of the whole nation by their actions, and the whole nation determines the fate of everyone by its common strength,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

The audience observed a moment of silence to honor all Ukrainians who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

The President encouraged everyone to remember the price Ukraine has paid to defend its independence.