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Statehood Day is celebrated on 15 July for the second year in a row

On 15 July 2025, Ukraine will officially celebrate Ukrainian Statehood Day for the second time, established in accordance with changes to the church calendar. From now on, the holiday falls on the day commemorating Prince Volodymyr and the Baptism of Rus, instead of 28 July, as it was previously. The decision to change the date was made by the Verkhovna Rada in July 2023 on the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. One of the reasons for this step was the rejection of the historical and calendar heritage imposed by Russia.

Ukrainian Statehood Day was established by a decree of President Zelenskyy in 2021. He emphasised that this holiday should symbolise the continuity of Ukrainian statehood since the times of Kievan Rus. In his address, the head of state pointed out the connection between modern Ukraine and the era of Prince Volodymyr the Great, who, having baptised Rus in 988, determined its civilisational direction. Despite the adoption of the law on the public holiday, Ukrainians do not yet have an additional day off on this occasion due to the martial law.

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The visual symbol of Statehood Day is an image called ‘Four Tridents,’ created on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture. The composition includes Prince Volodymyr’s trident, the modern coat of arms of Ukraine, the trident of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and variations drawn by hand by Ukrainians. According to the authors, this image conveys the continuity of generations and a sense of national unity.

Previously, the Day of the Baptism of Kyivan Rus’ — Ukraine was celebrated on 28 July, on the initiative of the third president, Viktor Yushchenko. However, this date had a controversial origin: it was linked to the church calendars of the Moscow Patriarchate, which caused heated discussions in Ukrainian society, especially after the start of Russian aggression in 2014.

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At the same time, historians do not agree on the exact date of the Baptism of Rus. Some sources point to 1 or 6 August 988, others to a later period. Most scholars agree that the baptism was primarily political in nature: it became part of an agreement between the Kyiv prince Volodymyr Sviatoslavych and the Byzantine emperor Basil II.

Despite all the debate, the new public holiday is another chance for Ukrainians to rethink their history and strengthen their sense of statehood and national identity, which isn’t influenced by outside forces.

Read also: Children’s Day to be celebrated in Ukraine in November

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