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Thousands of people march in Kyiv to mark Defenders of Ukraine Day
On October 14, thousands of war veterans and activists joined the march in Kyiv to celebrate Defenders of Ukraine Day.
Thursday, 14 October 2021, 15:40

The march brought together war veterans, families of the soldiers who died in Donbas war and political activists.  According to the  organizers, an estimated 10, 000 people were expected to attend the commemorative event.

March participants chanted patriotic slogans and lit flares.

In 2014, the then Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko signed an order that made October 14  the official holiday Defenders of Ukraine Day.

The date is aslo widely for another holiday, Pokrova or  the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos,  celebrated by Orthodox Christians.  It was also chosen for unofficial Ukrainian Cossack Day as  Virgin Mary was highly venerated by these warriors in early times of Ukrainian history, which probably is another reason that prompted Ukrainian insurgents back in 1940s to chose the day for establishment of UPA, Ukrainian Insurgent Army.

Tags: Defenders of Ukraine Day, march, political activists, war veterans