July 15 is Ukrainian Statehood Day — History, meaning, and why it still matters

Ukrainian Statehood Day. Origins of the holiday

Ukrainian Statehood Day was established by a decree of the President of Ukraine on August 24, 2021. The initiative to create this holiday came from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who announced it during the celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence.

The holiday was officially instituted to honor the continuity of Ukrainian statehood, from the princely era to modern independent Ukraine. Its purpose is to emphasize that Ukrainian statehood does not have a 30-year history, but one that spans more than a thousand years, beginning with the era of Kyivan Rus.

The date of July 15 was not chosen by chance: it coincides with the day of honoring Saint Volodymyr the Great, Equal-to-the-Apostles (according to the new church calendar). It was Volodymyr who, in 988, carried out the Baptism of Rus, thus defining a civilizational choice — integration into the European Christian world. This decision laid the foundation not only for the spiritual, but also for the political and cultural identity of Rus, and later of Ukraine.

Ukrainians celebrate Ukrainian Statehood Day on July 15 (photo: Getty Images)

Interesting facts and deeper meaning of the holiday

The history of Ukrainian statehood spans far more than one century or era. Kyivan Rus became a powerful political and spiritual center of Eastern Europe, but the story doesn’t end there. The Galicia-Volhynia principality, which rose on the foundations of Rus, carried on its legacy with dignity. Later, the Ukrainian Cossack state — the Hetmanate — emerged as a unique phenomenon in Europe at the time, with democratic institutions, diplomacy, an army, and self-governance.

In the 20th century, echoes of these state-building traditions were heard in the efforts of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UNR), the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR), and Carpathian Ukraine. While these entities were short-lived, their very emergence under the harshest of conditions stands as clear evidence of the Ukrainian people’s enduring desire for independence.

July 15 is more than just a date. It symbolizes historical continuity, the connection between generations, and the inheritance of ideals. It is a direct response to those who attempt to erase our history and rewrite our origins. We are not temporary guests on this land, but a nation with deep roots, longstanding traditions, and a clear vision of the future.

In the context of full-scale war, this holiday takes on even deeper significance. Every day, Ukrainians prove that they are ready to defend their state, not just with declarations, but with real actions, sacrifice, courage, and unity. Statehood is more than a constitution and borders. It is the inner strength of a people to remain true to themselves, to defend what is theirs, and never to give in.

This holiday is both a shield and a vaccine against the so-called Russian world. We make it clear: Rus is Ukraine. Ukrainians are the rightful heirs of Kyivan Rus — not the northeastern neighbors who have spent centuries trying to claim our heritage.

Finally, the Baptism of Rus in 988 was the first civilizational choice in favor of Europe. By embracing Christianity, Prince Volodymyr integrated Rus into the European cultural and political space. Today, as we continue along this path, we reaffirm our belonging to the European family of nations — free, equal, and dignified.

July 15 is also the day of the Baptism of Rus-Ukraine (photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)

Why is this holiday especially important now?

Because it speaks to the heart of the matter: Ukrainians did not emerge in 1991, and our statehood is not a product of political circumstance.

We are a nation with deep roots — one that has endured through centuries, occupations, revivals, and wars. And we have not merely survived — we have asserted ourselves.

Sources: Resolution No. 292-VII "On establishing the Day of Ukrainian Peacekeepers," Wikipedia.