Ukraine marks independence day under the threat of Russian aggression

On Saturday, August 24th, Ukraine celebrated its independence day under the threat of Russian aggression.

On August 24th, 1991 Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union. It is a special day for Ukrainians to celebrate their independence, and commemorate all of the people who have fought for the country's freedom throughout the years. Every year, the people of Ukraine gather and celebrate this national holiday with parades, fireworks, concerts and other celebrations. This year marked the 31st year of celebration in Ukraine. However, this year Ukrainians were met with a new threat - a Russian invasion!

In February and March 2014, Russia invaded and annexed the Crimean peninsula, which is located on the Black Sea between Ukraine and Russia. The Russians justified their actions by claiming that the Crimean people wanted to become a part of Russia. The Russians also claimed that the Ukrainian government was not legitimate and that the annexation was necessary to protect the interests of its citizens. Despite these arguments, the international community has refused to recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea and has even imposed sanctions on Russia for violating the sovereignty of Ukraine. These sanctions are designed to punish Russia and persuade it to stop its invasion of other countries and stop meddling in the affairs of other states.

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia sent its army into Ukraine and began trying to take over the country by force. This invasion surprised many people, as it was the first major war in Europe for decades. In February 2022, Putin again claimed that Ukrainians and Russians are one people. He sees Ukrainians and Russians as brother nations and says that because Russia is the older brother, it should get to be in charge. Most Ukrainians disagree. They have been inspired by the words of their president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He told Putin that Ukrainians want peace, but that if they need to, they will defend their country’s independence. Putin invaded, and this time his plan is to take over the entire country. Ukrainians are now fighting the Russian army, trying to defeat what they say is an occupation.

After watching the current situation President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had warned Ukrainians to be vigilant ahead of the anniversary, saying "Russia could try to do something particularly ugly, something particularly vicious." As tensions run high, Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv, introduced a 36-hour curfew from 7 pm on August 23rd.