Remembering the Heavenly Hundred: How 107 heroes forged Ukraine's path to freedom

Key facts about the memorial day:

• Event Date: February 20 – the day of the largest mass shootings during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014.

• Number of Heroes: The Heavenly Hundred officially includes 107 individuals.

• Significance: The activists’ sacrifice helped restore Ukraine’s European course and overthrow the Yanukovych regime.

• Symbolism: Commemorations are held under the motto “Grateful for Freedom!”.

On February 20, Ukraine observes the Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes. This date was established by Presidential Decree No. 69/2015 to honor the participants of the Revolution of Dignity who gave their lives for democratic values, human rights, and Ukraine’s European future.

On February 20, 2014, the most tragic events occurred in the center of Kyiv: 48 protesters were killed that day. Overall, the list of the Heavenly Hundred includes 107 people. In addition to those killed during the winter of 2013–2014, it also includes Maidan activists who died in spring 2014 defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity at the beginning of Russian aggression.

The climax of the Revolution of Dignity

The events of February 20 marked the climax of the Revolution of Dignity – a massive civil protest lasting 94 days, from November 21, 2013, to February 22, 2014.

The center of the protests was Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv and the surrounding streets – Khreshchatyk, Mykhaila Hrushevskoho, and Instytutska. The protests initially had a pro-European focus but later evolved into a broad campaign of civil disobedience against then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s regime, opposing corruption, the usurpation of power, and human rights violations.

Attempts to suppress the protests by force escalated the conflict and caused numerous casualties. Ukraine paid an extremely high price – human lives – for refusing to return to the post-Soviet model of governance and for pursuing a European path.

Who makes up the Heavenly Hundred

The Heavenly Hundred includes 107 deceased participants of the Revolution of Dignity, as well as Maidan activists who died in spring 2014 at the onset of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine.

The name originated from the structural units of the Maidan Self-Defense, called “hundreds”. The term Heavenly Hundred was first used during the farewell ceremonies for the fallen on February 21–22, 2014, at Maidan Nezalezhnosti.

The Heroes were people of various ages, nationalities, professions, and faiths. They were citizens of Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia. The youngest, Nazarii Voitovych, was 17, and the oldest, Ivan Nakonechnyi, was 82. Among the 107 Heroes, three were women: Antonina Dvoryanets, Olga Bura, and Liudmyla Sheremet.

The first of the Heavenly Hundred to die was Pavlo Mazurenko, on December 22, 2013, from injuries. The last, Viktor Orlenko, died on June 3, 2015, due to complications from wounds sustained during the storming of Maidan on February 18, 2014.

Significance for Ukraine

The Revolution of Dignity was a turning point in modern Ukrainian history. The overthrow of the Yanukovych regime paved the way for restoring the European integration course and signing the Association Agreement with the EU.

Key consequences of the Revolution include:

• Activation of civil society;

• Development of the volunteer movement;

• Initiation of reforms across multiple sectors;

• Decentralization;

• Decommunization;

• Partial renewal of the political elite.

The deaths of the Heavenly Hundred changed Ukrainian public consciousness, highlighting concepts such as dignity, freedom, the right to self-determination, state sovereignty, and the European choice.

"Amid fire and ice, snipers on rooftops, the Heavenly Hundred paid the heaviest price of patriots… Their blood and courage give the Ukrainian people a second chance at freedom," said U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in 2015, commenting on the Maidan events.

State commemoration

On July 1, 2014, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law establishing a state award – the Order of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. By Presidential Decree No. 844/2014 of November 3, 2014, the statute and design of the order were approved.

The order is a blue cross depicting a heavenly warrior in armor with a sword and shield, stylized after the improvised equipment of Maidan participants. The reverse side reads: “Freedom and Dignity.”

Day of Memory and Responsibility

The Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes is both a day of mourning, related to the deaths during the Revolution of Dignity and the early stages of Russian aggression, and a day to honor the struggle for a dignified and free life.

The memory of the Heavenly Hundred is commemorated under the motto “Grateful for Freedom!”.

The Heroes made a conscious choice – to fight for Ukraine’s freedom and dignity. Their sacrifice remains a symbol of civic courage, strength of spirit, and readiness to defend democratic values.

Remembering them is meant to unite society and instill a sense of responsibility for the country’s future.

Answers to key questions

• Why is the Day of the Heavenly Hundred Heroes observed on February 20?
  February 20, 2014, saw the escalation of shootings on Instytutska Street in Kyiv, resulting in the highest number of victims in a single day (48 deaths) during the Revolution of Dignity.

• How many people are officially in the Heavenly Hundred?
  Today, 107 individuals are recognized as Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. This includes activists killed during the Kyiv protests and those who died in spring 2014 defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

• Are there foreigners among the Heroes?
  Yes, the Heavenly Hundred includes citizens of Belarus (e.g., Mykhailo Zhyznevskyi) and Georgia, who fought alongside Ukrainians for democratic values.

Earlier, we covered the significance of the Day of Dignity and Freedom, observed on November 21 to mark the beginning of the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2013, including key events, the European course of Ukraine, and Yanukovych’s flight after the February 2014 bloodshed.

Sources: Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, wikipedia.org, Presidential Decree No. 69/2015 “On Honoring the Feat of Participants of the Revolution of Dignity and Commemorating the Memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.”