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103-603: The first parade in honor of Independence Day was held on Khreschatyk Street in 1994 on the country's third anniversary. The parade commander was the head of the Kyiv Military District Ivan Bizhan and inspecting the parade was the Defense Minister Vitaly Radetsky . It was then held off and on in different formats. A large-scale aviation show on Independence Day took place at Kyiv Chaika Airfield in 1997, featuring flypasts by personnel of

206-557: A battalion of 120 female military personnel in the parade for the first time since its inception. The unit comprised cadets from the Taras Shevchenko National University Military Institute and the Military Institute of Telecommunications and Information Technologies . Their appearance as they marched along Khreshchatyk was greeted with loud applause from the spectators. The parade was also

309-502: A clash with pro-Russian demonstrators there. Despite this, a report by the BBC said that whilst it appeared that Ukrainian troops and the mayor of Mariupol did enter the building in the early morning, Ukrainian troops had abandoned it by the afternoon. Local pro-Russian activists blamed Ukrainian nationalists for the attack upon the building but said that the DPR had regained control. A representative of

412-511: A construction site. In the winter of 2004, Khreshchatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti became the centre of the main public protests of the Orange Revolution . The protesters' main tent encampment was situated in the street. At its peak, over a million people from all around Ukraine attended the rally. In late 2013, Khreshchatyk became one of the centres of the Revolution of Dignity . Following

515-453: A deep gulley or valley; but it cannot be avoided, because it connects all three cities." In Kievan Rus' times, the fortifications of the Upper Town existed across Old Kyiv Hill  [ uk ] above the ravine. These had been reduced to ruins by the early 19th century, when they were removed, leaving a square at the foot the hill at the modern Maidan Nezalezhnosti . Construction of

618-572: A former USSR constituent republic, Ukraine was perceived by the leadership of Russia as part of its sphere of influence . In a 2002 paper Taras Kuzio stated "While accepting Ukrainian independence, Putin has sought to draw Ukraine into a closer relationship. This approach has been acceptable to eastern Ukrainian oligarchs , who do not harbour anti-Russian feelings". In 2011 Taras Kuzio stated The traditional Soviet policy of dividing eastern against western Ukrainians, then "bourgeois nationalists" and now "crazy Galicians," remains in place. This tactic

721-580: A parade, the remains of numerous Russian military vehicles and artilleries destroyed by Ukrainian troops were displayed along Khreshchatyk . As Independence Day is the national independence holiday of Ukraine the celebrations in Kyiv thus serve as a national event to mark the holiday. The celebrations begin as the parade commander (The commander is usually the Commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces holding

824-484: A political dialogue and the heavy-handed approach. We are ready for both." Acting president Oleksandr Turchynov had already signed a decree which called for the Donetsk regional state administration building, occupied by separatists, to be taken "under state protection". He offered amnesty to any separatists who laid down their arms and surrendered. By 11 April Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that he had been against

927-667: A referendum on greater autonomy or joining Russia, similar to the one held in Crimea in March. Hundreds of masked men also seized weapons from the SBU building in the city. A large crowd then stormed and occupied the Donetsk RSA building , raising the Russian flag. They demanded the regional council meet by noon the next day and vote for a referendum on joining Russia. Otherwise, they vowed to take control of

1030-624: A regional administration building in Khartsyzk on 13 April, followed by a local administration building in Zhdanivka on 14 April. On 12 April, unmarked pro-Russian militants seized the Donetsk headquarters of the Interior Ministry and two police stations without resistance, while an assault on the general prosecutor's office was repelled. Following negotiations between the militants and those in

1133-512: A roadmap for ending the war in October 2019, but it remained unresolved. During 2021, Ukrainian fatalities rose sharply and Russian forces massed around Ukraine's borders . Russia recognized the DPR and LPR as independent states on 21 February 2022 and deployed troops to those territories. On 24 February, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine , subsuming the war in Donbas into it. Following

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1236-738: Is the main street of Kyiv , the capital city of Ukraine. The street is 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi) long, and runs in a northeast-southwest direction from European Square through the Maidan to Bessarabska Square and the Besarabsky Market . The offices of the Kyiv City Council , the Post Office , the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food , the State Committee of Television and Radio Broadcasting ,

1339-430: The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , the annual Kyiv parade was cancelled, and in its place there was a display of the burnt remains of Russian military vehicles . It was reported that Russian forces were expecting to parade down Khreshchatyk within three days of the start of the invasion, and that some soldiers had been issued ceremonial uniforms for that purpose. Kyiv City Council, Kyiv City State Administration ,

1442-686: The Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Security and Defence Council launched an anti-terrorist operation "in the war waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine". As part of the counter-offensive, Ukrainian troops re-took the airfield in Kramatorsk after a skirmish with members of the Donbas People's Militia. According to Russian media, at least four people died as a result. After

1545-531: The Armed Forces of Ukraine ensued, marking the start of combat in the Donbas. The same day as the capture of Sloviansk, Girkin's men attacked the police station in nearby Kramatorsk , resulting in a shootout. The fighters, claiming to be members of the Donbas People's Militia , later captured the police station. They removed the police station's sign and raised the flag of the Donetsk People's Republic over

1648-940: The Donbas war , was a phase of the Russo-Ukrainian War in the Donbas region of Ukraine . The war began in April 2014 , when a commando unit headed by Russian citizen Igor Girkin seized Sloviansk in Donetsk oblast . The Ukrainian military launched an operation against them. The war continued until subsumed by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In March 2014, following Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity , anti-revolution and pro-Russian protests began in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts , collectively 'the Donbas'. These began as Russia invaded Crimea . Armed Russian-backed separatists seized Ukrainian government buildings and declared

1751-420: The Donetsk and Luhansk republics (DPR and LPR) as independent states, leading to conflict with Ukrainian forces. Russia covertly supported the separatists with troops and weaponry. It only admitted sending "military specialists", but later acknowledged the separatists as Russian combat veterans . In April 2014, Ukraine launched a counter-offensive, called the "Anti-Terrorist Operation" (ATO), later renamed

1854-442: The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food , the State Committee for Television and Radio-broadcasting , and a number of cinemas and hotels, are all located on the street. Khreshchatyk is a popular attraction for visitors to the city and residents. During weekends, the street is closed to road traffic . It is a traditional setting for outdoor concerts and festivals, and is frequented by street musicians. Points of interest include

1957-730: The Minsk Protocol , in September 2014. Ceasefire breaches became rife, 29 in all, and heavy fighting resumed in January 2015, during which the separatists captured Donetsk Airport . A new ceasefire, Minsk II , was agreed on 12 February 2015. Immediately after, separatists renewed their offensive on Debaltseve and forced Ukraine's military to withdraw. Skirmishes continued but the front line did not change. Both sides fortified their position by building networks of trenches , bunkers and tunnels , resulting in static trench warfare . Stalemate led to

2060-714: The October Revolution . The street was one of the first parts of the city to be serviced by the Kyiv Metro , when the Khreshchatyk station was opened in 1960, and became the system's first transfer station upon the opening of a second line in 1976. A few days after the Chernobyl nuclear accident , the Soviet authorities held the 1986 May Day parade on Khreshchatyk  [ uk ] , to "calm people" and "prevent panic" caused by

2163-553: The Revolution of Dignity . Immediately following the revolution, unmarked Russian troops occupied the Ukrainian territory of Crimea . After an illegal referendum , Crimea was annexed by Russia . Following the revolution, counter-revolutionary and pro-Russian protests began in parts of the Donbas. A national survey held in March–April 2014 found that 58% of respondents in the Donbas wanted autonomy within Ukraine, while 31% wanted

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2266-616: The Slavic word krest or khrest ( cross ), as it lies in a valley that is crossed by several ravines . A small river, the Khreshchatyk River, a tributary of the Lybid River , ran along much of the valley. A road ran beside the stream. In 1770, the doctor and diarist John Lerche described the landscape: "At the end of the Pechersk suburb, there is a narrow road (Khreshchatytskaya) due to

2369-764: The TsUM department store , and the Ukrainian House , are all located on Khreshchatyk. Khreshchatyk was deliberately destroyed during World War II by retreating Red Army troops. Among the notable buildings that were dynamited were the Kyiv City Duma , the Kyiv Stock Exchange, the National Hotel  [ uk ] , and the Ginsburg Skyscraper . The street was rebuilt in a Stalinist neo-classical style after

2472-485: The Ukrainian Air Force . In 1998, the parade included military vehicles for the first time since 1990. The last parade of the century was in 1999. On its 10th anniversary of independence of 2001, Kyiv held its largest parade at the time. 173 pieces of equipment and 6,530 soldiers took part in the parade. Soldiers, who were dressed in old Cossack uniforms, were also at the parade. A new column of T-84s , took part in

2575-695: The War in Donbass . There was a moment of silence to remember the " Heavenly Hundred " who died during the Maidan Revolution of 2013 and 2014. The parade went without the participation of military vehicles. In President Poroshenko 's speech he mentioned the Battle of Ilovaisk and promised to not forgive those responsible. At the same time, he called the Minsk II protocol "uncontested". There were 2,300 soldiers participating in

2678-751: The history of Ukraine from the Kyivan Rus’ to modern Ukraine the Cossack era, literary Ukraine. At the outset, a 30 meter long flag of Ukraine held by soldiers marched first in front a veterans contingent. Foreign participants in the march-past, fly-past, and a flotilla off the coast of Odesa included Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In the National Guard of Ukraine and border guards contingents, canine units were used for

2781-466: The "Joint Forces Operation" (JFO). By August 2014, Ukraine had re-taken most separatist-held territory and nearly regained control of the Russia–Ukraine border . In response, Russia covertly sent troops, tanks and artillery into the Donbas . The Russian incursion helped pro-Russian forces regain much of the territory they had lost. Ukraine, Russia, the DPR and LPR signed a ceasefire agreement,

2884-634: The ' Euromaidan ' protests began in response to Yanukovych's decision to abandon a political association and free trade agreement with the European Union (EU), instead choosing closer ties to Russia. Earlier that year, Ukraine's parliament had overwhelmingly approved finalizing the agreement with the EU. Russia had put pressure on Ukraine to reject it. The scope of the protests widened, with calls for Yanukovych's resignation. Protesters opposed what they saw as widespread government corruption and abuse of power ,

2987-559: The 1830s and 1840s, beginning from the European Square end. Its current design emerged in 1837 when it was planned as Kyiv's principal street by architects that included the city architect, Ludvik Stanzani  [ uk ] . From 1868 banks started to be located on Khreshchatyk. The Kyiv Stock Exchange was built in 1869. The thoroughfare became one of the most famous in the Russian Empire . The new City Hall  [ uk ]

3090-585: The 19th-century Besarabsky indoor Market , the shops, offices and PinchukArtCentre in the Besarabsky Quarter, the Metrohrad underground shopping centre , TSUM Kyiv , Kyiv Passage (a small narrow commercial and residential street), and the City Council building. Major parades and celebrations are held on Kyiv Day (the last Sunday of May), Victory Day (9 May), and Independence Day (24 August). Four of

3193-710: The Armed Forces of Ukraine re-took the airfield, the commanding general of the unit that had retaken it, Vasyl Krutov , was surrounded by hostile protesters who demanded to know why the Ukrainian troops had fired upon local residents. Krutov was then dragged back to the airbase along with his unit. They were then blocked by the protesters, who vowed not to let the troops leave the base. Krutov later told reporters that "if they [the separatists] do not lay down their arms, they will be destroyed". Donbas People's Militia insurgents entered Sloviansk on 16 April, along with six armoured personnel carriers they claimed to have obtained from

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3296-558: The Cossacks defeated the Tsardom of Russia army near Konotop in 1659. The 2018 parade took place on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, as well as the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian People's Republic . The parade was expected to demonstrate more than 200 new models military hardware in the mobile column. The Ukrainian military included

3399-553: The Donbas War. He said "I'm the one who pulled the trigger of war. If our unit hadn't crossed the border, everything would have fizzled out, like in Kharkiv, like in Odesa". He explained that "nobody there wanted to fight" until his unit seized Sloviansk. After militants took over the city, Sloviansk mayor Nelya Shtepa briefly appeared at an occupied police station, and expressed support for

3502-490: The German made Unter dem Siegesbanner by Franz von Blon accompanied the march of the foreign delegation, as well as when the traditional Red Cranberry & For Ukraine was replaced by the theme from Ukraine (by Taras Petrynenko ) as the presidential fanfare.The opening inspection of troops was also accompanied by a new piece of music which was adapted to fit a military march, Zporiz'kyy March by Mykola Lysenko . In 2017,

3605-640: The Massed Bands, as the Drum Majors and the Senior Director of Music signal the bands to stop playing the parade commander informs him of the readiness of the parade to be reviewed. The bands then resuming the inspection music, the vehicles of the parade commander and the Minister then inspect the formations of the ground column, which present arms with eyes right. As the vehicles stop upon reaching each battalion and

3708-597: The Neoclassical Stalinist architectural style . Important buildings of the new ensemble include the headquarters of Kyiv City Council ( Kyivrada ), the Central Post Office ( Poshtamt ) and Trade Unions Building ( Budynok Profspilok ). The picturesque quality of Khreshchatyk was enhanced by the street being replanted with chestnut trees. The street was used for demonstrations and parades in honour of 1 May (until 1969), Victory Day (9 May) and

3811-653: The PC shouts the Ceremonial march past order, the parade's armed units execute high port arms and all the unit color guards execute slope arms and then all the contingents advance in review order at this point and halt without a word of command in the middle of the street turning about. After the final command, the Corps of Drums of the Ivan Bohun Military High School beats a cadence to begin the march past segment, preceded by

3914-494: The Republic, Irina Voropoyeva , said, "We, the Donetsk People's Republic, still control the building. There was an attempted provocation but now it's over." On the same day, Ukrainian government officials said that the Armed Forces had intended to retake the city of Sloviansk, but that an increased threat of "Russian invasion" halted these operations. Russian forces had mobilised within 10 kilometres ( 6 + 1 ⁄ 4  mi) of

4017-475: The Ukrainian 25th Airborne Brigade , which had surrendered in the city of Kramatorsk . Reports say members of the brigade were disarmed after the vehicles were blocked from passing by angry locals. In another incident, several hundred residents of the village of Pchyolkino, south of Sloviansk, surrounded another column of 14 Ukrainian armoured vehicles. Following negotiations, the troops were allowed to drive their vehicles away, but only after agreeing to surrender

4120-404: The Ukrainian border. The officials said that seven troops were killed during the day's operations. President Turchynov issued a statement later in the day, and said that the "Anti-Terrorist Operation" would be resumed, citing the ongoing hostage crisis in Sloviansk as a reason. By 6 May, 14 Ukrainian troops had died and 66 had been injured in the fighting. Insurgents took over the offices of

4223-485: The building after a tense standoff with the police. Some members of the local police unit had defected to the Donetsk People's Republic earlier in the day, whilst the remaining officers were forced to retreat, allowing the insurgents to take control of the building. The local chief of police was captured and badly beaten by the insurgents. A Horlivka city council deputy, Volodymyr Rybak , was kidnapped by masked men believed to be pro-Russian militants on 17 April. His body

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4326-510: The building, the chief of the office resigned from his post. According to anonymous witnesses, some militants wore uniforms of the Berkut special police force, which had been dissolved by the new government following the February revolution. The militants also took over the municipal administration building unopposed on 16 April. Demonstrators hoisted the DPR flag over the city administration buildings in Krasnoarmiisk and Novoazovsk on 16 April. The local administration building in Siversk

4429-413: The building. They then issued an ultimatum that stated that if the city's mayor and administration did not swear allegiance to the Republic by the following Monday, they would remove them from office. Concurrently, a crowd of demonstrators surrounded the city administration building, captured it, and raised the Donetsk People's Republic flag over it. A representative of the Republic addressed locals outside

4532-428: The city administration building and raised the DPR flag over it. The city administration buildings in Yenakiieve and Druzhkivka were also captured. Police repelled an attack by pro-Russian militants upon an office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Krasnyi Lyman on 12 April, but the building was later captured by the separatists after a skirmish. Insurgents affiliated with the Donbas People's Militia occupied

4635-472: The city in 1869, and steam-powered trams a few years later; but the terrain was too hilly for them, and they sometimes ran out of control downhill. In 1892, the first electric tram line in the empire ran in Kyiv, and the Russian Empire's first electric tram was extended from Khreshchatyk to Podol. In 1904, the pavement was laid with granite cobbles, having been first provided with a hard surface in 1888, Revolutionary rallies and demonstrations took place on

4738-634: The city was still not under Ukrainian government control. On 22 April pro-Russian demonstrators in Kostiantynivka burned down the offices of a newspaper that had been critical of the DPR. On 21 April, demonstrators gathered for a 'people's assembly' outside the SBU building in Luhansk and called for a 'people's government', demanding either federalization or joining Russia. At this assembly, they elected Valery Bolotov as "People's Governor". Two referendums were announced, one to be held on 11 May to determine whether Luhansk region should seek greater autonomy, and another scheduled for 18 May to determine whether

4841-410: The city’s larger churches, became its central modern attraction for visitors. The Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius met at the apartment of 19th-century Ukrainian historian Mykola Kostomarov on Khreshchatyk. The street was lit by gas in 1872, and by electricity in the 1890s. In 1897 it was still the only street in the city with electric lights. Horse-drawn trams had first appeared in

4944-450: The country's "commitment to NATO standards". As part of this, a new way to march was implemented, in which the servicemen have already raising the leg by five centimeters. The following foreign dignitaries attended the parade: Many dignitaries attended in connection with the Crimea Platform held the previous day, including representatives of 46 states. During the preceding ceremony, a theatrical performance referred to as "DNA" presented

5047-443: The disaster. Thousands of Kyivans, including many children, were exposed to dangerous doses of radiation as a result. In 1989, part of the Kyiv Central Post Office building collapsed  [ uk ] during heavy rain, killing a dozen people and injuring others. On 24 July 1990, the first ceremonial raising of the Ukrainian national flag took place on Khreshchatyk, at the Kyiv City Council building. In 2010, Khreshchatyk

5150-408: The end of the war, and has been renovated since Ukraine's independence. The area of Kyiv now occupied by Khreshchatyk was originally a forest-covered valley with a stream flowing through it. In ancient times, it was a hunting place where Kyiv residents hung out nets to catch wild animals,which gave the ancient name of the area, Perevesishte . The name Khreshchatyk is believed to be derived from

5253-409: The establishment of the Soviet authorities, Khreshchatyk became a place where celebrations, labour demonstrations, and military parades took place. Between the wars, Khreshchatyk underwent major development and reconstruction. Between 1923 and 1937, it was renamed Vorovsky Street , after Vatslav Vorovsky , an early Bolshevik diplomat who had been assassinated in Switzerland. In 1934–1935 the street

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5356-484: The first operation in history where the long-distance radio-controlled explosions were used for military purposes. This unprecedented method of warfare caused panic and brought heavy casualties among both the occupiers and city's remaining civilian population. Under German occupation, the street was renamed Eichhornstrasse , after Hermann von Eichhorn , a field marshal and the supreme commander of Army Group Kyiv and simultaneously military governor of Ukraine during

5459-411: The first time. It demonstrated the latest developments, including the Vilkha multiple rocket launcher, Neptune cruise missile, Hrim-2 ballistic missile and other new and modernized defence equipment, as well as the Turkish UAV Bayraktar TB2 . The Ukrainian military also held a military parade on the Dnieper River , outside the one on Khreshchatyk. By decree of President Viktor Yuschenko in 2005,

5562-552: The first to use " Glory to Ukraine " and " Glory to the Heroes " as the official greeting of the parade formations. Similar to the previous year's parade, the parade also included 15 contingents from NATO armed services as an expression of gratitude for their assistance and support to all the men and women of the armed forces, active and reserve. Also, a number of Armed Forces units were granted unit honorifics honoring Ukrainian War of Independence figures and battles and important Ukrainian military heroes. The Independence Day in 2019

5665-413: The flagpole to render honors, with the massed bands of the Military Music Directorate of the Armed Forces playing music. The flag is raised to the National Anthem Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy (either with the massed bands plus optional chorus or a capella) and a 21-gun salute is then fired. The parade then prepares for its inspection by the Minister of Defense. As the vehicle carrying the Minister approaches

5768-417: The front line of the War in Donbass "Where it is needed now." Zelensky also stated that there will be a military parade in the future "a parade of Ukrainian victory, when we will return all our people and all our territories ." Ukraine lost control of Crimea (due to the 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea ) and of territories currently held by the Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic at

5871-453: The influence of oligarchs , police brutality , and human rights violations . The protests culminated in February 2014 with clashes in Kyiv between protesters and Berkut special riot police, in which 108 protesters were killed . Yanukovych and the opposition signed an agreement on 21 February, but he secretly fled the city that evening. The following day, parliament voted to remove him from office . This series of events became known as

5974-430: The insurgents, but were forced to retreat after many men were wounded by insurgent fire. Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov said that the insurgents were led by a man with "an extensive beard". Some 30 militants seized the police headquarters in Konstantinovka on 28 April. The Internal Affairs Minister, Arsen Avakov , said on 24 April that Ukrainian troops had captured the city administration in Mariupol, after

6077-437: The invasion, Russia held illegitimate referendums on the Ukrainian territory it occupied, annexing the LPR and DPR as well as Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, despite not controlling all of the area of any of these territories nor defining borders for them. Russia now thus views the LPR and DPR as a Republic of Russia , but the international community still overwhelmingly views them as About 14,000 people were killed in

6180-407: The linemen and markers take their places afterwards, at the same time the colour guard formed from the new colours received on this day takes its position in the line behind the tri-service colour guard in readiness for the march past. After the colour guard is formed, the parade commander then orders the parade to commence the march past in review in the following manner: As the parade forms up, as

6283-493: The magazines from their assault rifles. These incidents led President Turchynov to say he would disband the 25th Airborne Brigade , although this was later cancelled. Three members of the Donbas People's Militia were killed, 11 wounded, and 63 were arrested after they attempted and failed to storm a National Guard base in Mariupol . On 20 April, separatists in Yenakiieve left the city administration building there, which they had occupied since 13 April. Despite this, by 27 May

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6386-418: The massed bands pause at the orders of the senior director of music, the Minister then addresses the formations assembled: A threefold Glory ! (Ukrainian: Slava! ) is the response of the battalions following the greeting as the music resumes. Following the ground column, the parade commander and Minister then inspect the battalions of the vehicle and gun crews forming up the mobile column, and then return to

6489-603: The militants. Others gathered outside the building and similarly voiced their support for the militants. They told Ukrainian journalists who were reporting on the situation to "go back to Kyiv ". Shtepa was later detained by the insurgents, and replaced by the self-proclaimed "people's mayor" Vyacheslav Ponomarev . The pro-Russian militants killed a member of Solviansk town council, Volodymyr Ivanovych Rybak , as well as four other Ukrainians, including 25-year-old Yuri Dyakovsky and an unnamed 19-year-old man. Girkin took responsibility for these summary executions in 2020, even though in

6592-446: The occupied police station, but was received negatively and booed. Pro-Russian militants attempted to seize the police headquarters in Horlivka on 12 April, but were halted. Ukrainska Pravda reported that police said that the purpose of the attempted seizure was to gain access to a weapons cache. They said that they would use force if needed to defend the building from "criminals and terrorists". By 14 April militants had captured

6695-526: The parade celebrated the 26th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. 4,500 troops participated in the parade, along with 9 formations from NATO allied countries The Secretary of Defense of the United States, and the Defense ministers of Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Montenegro, Estonia, and the United Kingdom attended the ceremony. Also there was a military equipment exhibition on Mikhaylivska Square. Also, two other units were given honorary titles: Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky , under whose leadership

6798-401: The parade commander's vehicle and followed by the tri-service colour guard, historical colours and the massed colour guard unit. As the massed bands start playing the Corps of Drums stop playing by the signal of the Corps Drum Major and swings its drumsticks while on the eyes right. Khreschatyk Street Khreshchatyk ( Ukrainian : Хрещатик , pronounced [xreˈʃt͡ʃɑtɪk] )

6901-479: The parade for the first time. For the first time, there were parades in Lviv and Vinnytsia , Odessa , Chernihiv and Sevastopol . Russian president Vladimir Putin , Polish president Aleksander Kwaśniewski , and Macedonian president Boris Trajkovski attended the parade. It was inspected by Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kuzmuk . The 2003 parade, marking the 12th anniversary of independence, included more than 5,000 soldiers from 16 battalions. The National Anthem

7004-663: The parade was cancelled, only to return in 2008 for the 17th anniversary of Ukraine. Under the presidency of Viktor Yanukovich , the parade was not held at all. On 10 July 2019 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Facebook that the 2019 Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations will not include a military parade. Zelensky also stated "We have decided to allocate ₴300 million (nearly $ 12 million) as bonus payments to our servicemen, i.e. fixed-term soldiers, cadets, sergeants, officers.” On Independence Day 2020 , Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that there should not be military equipment on parade in Kyiv, but on

7107-406: The parade were 144 ground units, 22 aircraft, 8 helicopters, and over 3.5 thousand troops. In 2009, 3,400 soldiers marched on Khreshchatyk in honor of the 18th anniversary of independence. Thirty-five planes, including bombers, attack aircraft and combat helicopters flew over the capital during the parade. The highlight of the parade was the Antonov planes flying overhead. The musical accompaniment

7210-412: The parade. Fourteen units carried battle flags of honor with the combat banner "For courage and bravery". 2016 celebrated the 25th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. The parade involved more than 4,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces, and over 200 pieces of military equipment. The parade commander was Lt. General Serhiy Popko . The soldiers paraded in the new model uniforms which incorporate details from

7313-403: The parade. Officers who participated in the parade received a commemorative badge in honor of the 23rd anniversary of independence. The parade was inspected by Defense Minister Yevhen Marchuk . The commander of the parade was Mukola Petruk . This parade was the first one since 2004 due to lack of funds for the parades. This parade celebrated the 17th anniversary of independence. Participating in

7416-417: The preceding years he and other pro-Russian militants had claimed Rybak had been released. The militants gained control of the city's police weapons cache and seized hundreds of firearms, which prompted the Ukrainian government to launch a "counter-terrorism" operation to retake the city. This government counter-offensive began on the morning of 13 April. An entrenched standoff between pro-Russian forces and

7519-402: The preparation of official events called the "March of Dignity". According to a 21 October 2020 decree by President Zelensky on Independence Day 2021 a military parade was held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence . The parade was considered to be, the words of defense minister Andriy Taran , a break from the "Sovietness" of previous parades and a demonstration of

7622-458: The previous German occupation, who in 1918 had been assassinated on Khreshchatyk by the social revolutionary Boris Donskoy . In 1944, the Soviet authorities planned to enlarge Khreschatyk when it was rebuilt. After the end of the war, 30 damaged buildings that could have been restored were demolished. The thoroughfare was rebuilt in the 1950s and 1960s. It was widened to become 75–100 metres (246–328 ft) wide, and new buildings were erected in

7725-556: The rank of Colonel General) arrives to take his place in the parade and receives the salutes of the Commandant, National Defense University and reviews the formations in attendance. At 10am the President arrives and personnel of the tri-service Kyiv Presidential Honor Guard Battalion marches in the formation on Independence Square, carrying the Flag of Ukraine to be raised and halts just west of

7828-452: The region should join Russia, or declare independence. Turchynov relaunched the stalled counter-offensive against pro-Russian insurgents on 22 April, after two men, one a local politician, were found "tortured to death". The politician, Volodymyr Rybak , was found dead near Sloviansk after having been abducted by pro-Russian insurgents. Turchynov said that "the terrorists who effectively took

7931-568: The region to separate from Ukraine. Pro-Russian protesters occupied the Donetsk Regional State Administration Building from 1 to 6 March 2014, before being removed by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Pavel Gubarev , a member of the neo-Nazi group Russian National Unity , was proclaimed "people's governor" of Donetsk Oblast. On 6 April, 1,000–2,000 people gathered at a rally in Donetsk to demand

8034-548: The regional government with a "people's mandate", and dismiss all elected regional councillors and members of parliament. As these demands were not met, the following day the activists held a meeting in the building and proclaimed the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) as an independent state. Unrest also began in Luhansk on 6 April, when hundreds of protesters attacked and laid siege to the SBU headquarters for six hours, demanding

8137-409: The regional state television network on 27 April. After capturing the broadcasting centre, the militants began to broadcast Russian television channels. The Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) was declared on 27 April. Representatives of the Republic demanded that the Ukrainian government provide amnesty for all protesters, enshrine Russian as an official language, and hold a referendum on the status of

8240-481: The release of anti-government militants held there. They eventually stormed the building, releasing prisoners and seizing weapons. In response to the widening unrest, Acting Ukrainian President, Oleksandr Turchynov announced on 7 April that Ukraine would launch an "anti-terrorist operation". On 8 April, he signed a decree to take the Donetsk regional government buildings "under state protection". The Minister of Internal Affairs, Arsen Avakov , said on 9 April that

8343-594: The saluting base at Independence Square. After the review finishes, the President, upon receiving the concluding report from the Defense Minister (who is a civilian or holding general of the army rank if military), and the parade being ordered to stand at ease, then addresses the nation. The Prayer for Ukraine is then played afterwards, after which (in recent years) an awards ceremony is held, wherein distinguished servicemen are honored and new colours received by military, police, civil defence and border guard units. As

8446-682: The separatist movement in Donetsk from April until August 2014, and were supported by volunteers and materiel from Russia. As the conflict escalated in May 2014, Russia employed a " hybrid approach", deploying a combination of disinformation, irregular fighters, regular Russian troops, and conventional military support to destabilize the Donbas. Between 12 April and 14 April, Russian-allied militants took control of government buildings in several towns and cities in Donetsk oblast, including Sloviansk , Mariupol , Horlivka , Kramatorsk , Yenakiieve , Makiivka , Druzhkivka , and Zhdanivka . On 12 April,

8549-594: The start in 2014 of the war in Donbass. The parade was cancelled a third time under Zelenskyy due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian military, which Independence Day marked six months from the beginning of. Ukraine's Culture Ministry confirmed there would not be any public celebration to mark the holiday, and officials warned civilians against gathering in major cities due to the high likelihood Russia would target celebrations for shelling, with President Zelenskyy stating "Russia may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel." In substitute to

8652-800: The stations of the Kyiv Metro, the city's rapid transit system, serve the street. Passengers are able to transfer by foot from Maidan Nezalezhnosti to Khreshchatyk, as well as from Teatralna to Zoloti Vorota . 50°26′50″N 30°31′19″E  /  50.44722°N 30.52194°E  / 50.44722; 30.52194 War in Donbas (2014%E2%80%932022) [REDACTED] Ukraine (details) Ukrainian Armed Forces Security Service Internal Affairs Ministry [REDACTED] Russia (details) [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Pro-Russian separatists (details) DPR Armed Forces Post-Minsk II conflict Attacks on civilians Related The war in Donbas , also known as

8755-503: The strategic town of Sloviansk was captured by a fifty-strong unit of heavily-armed pro-Russian militants. They attacked and occupied the town's administration building, police station, and SBU building, and set up roadblocks with the help of local armed activists. The unit were Russian Armed Forces 'volunteers' under the command of Russian GRU colonel Igor Girkin ('Strelkov'). They had been sent from Russian-occupied Crimea and wore no insignia . Girkin said that this action sparked

8858-717: The street in 1901, 1902, 1905, and in June 1917. During the period of chaos after the Russian Revolution of 1917 , the Ukrainian , German , Polish , and Russian Bolshevik forces all controlled Kyiv at various times. On 9 May 1920, the Polish army under General Rydz-Smigly celebrated their capture of Kyiv by a victory parade on Khreshchatyk . They were driven out by the Russian Bolshevik counter-offensive within weeks. After

8961-487: The street started at the end of the 18th century, when the ravine began to be filled in. The first houses, built in 1797, were wooden, with the earliest recorded building being the late 18th-century mansion of a landowner called Golovinsky. In 1804–1806, the first theatre in Kyiv was built at one end of the street. It was a wooden structure that was later demolished and replaced by the three-storey European Hotel  [ uk ] . Khreshchatyk began to be developed in

9064-567: The uniforms worn by the Ukrainian People's Army . Participants of parade honored the dead Ukrainian heroes. A minute of silence was accompanied by the folk song A Duck is Floating  [ uk ] . The celebrations were attended by the President of Poland Andrzej Duda . Also participating in the parade was the Lithuanian–Polish–Ukrainian Brigade . Many changes took place in the musical accompaniment, particularly when

9167-479: The unrest would be resolved within 48 hours, either through negotiations or the use of force. On 10 April, President Turchynov offered amnesty to the militants, if they laid down their arms, and also offered to hold referendums on autonomy. While the initial protests were largely native expressions of discontent with the new Ukrainian government, Russia took advantage of them to launch a coordinated political and military campaign against Ukraine. Russian citizens led

9270-419: The use of "law enforcement" at the time, but that "there was a limit" to how much the Ukrainian government would tolerate. In response to the spread of separatist control throughout Donetsk Oblast and the separatists' refusal to lay down their arms, Turchynov vowed to launch a military counter-offensive operation, called the "Anti-Terrorist Operation", against insurgents in the region by 15 April. On 13 April,

9373-500: The war being called a " frozen conflict ", but Donbas remained a war zone, with dozens killed monthly. In 2017, on average a Ukrainian soldier died every three days, with an estimated 40,000 separatist and 6,000 Russian troops in the region. By the end of 2017, OSCE observers had counted around 30,000 people in military gear crossing from Russia at the two border checkpoints it was allowed to monitor , and documented military convoys crossing from Russia covertly. All sides agreed to

9476-412: The war: 6,500 Russian and Russian proxy forces, 4,400 Ukrainian forces, and 3,400 civilians on both sides. Most civilian casualties were in the first year. In 2011, Ukrainian Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts had a combined population of 6,1mln. As a result of Russian military aggression in 2014, 2 million had to leave the region as refugees. Despite being recognized as an independent country since 1991 , as

9579-629: The whole Donetsk Oblast hostage have now gone too far". The Internal Affairs Ministry reported that the city of Sviatohirsk , near Sloviansk, was retaken by Ukrainian troops on 23 April. In addition, the Defence Ministry said it had taken control over all points of strategic importance in the area around Kramatorsk . On 24 April, 70 to 100 insurgents armed with assault rifles and rocket launchers attacked an armoury in Artemivsk. The depot housed around 30 tanks . Ukrainian troops attempted to fight off

9682-641: Was built on the street in 1874–1876. Other notable buildings constructed during this period were the Merchants' Hall, the concert hall, the Central Post Office , and the Club for Polish Noblemen. During the 1880s, its wooden-built restaurants and taverns were being replaced by stone-built multi-storey houses and shops. The street, with its departmental stores and hotels, was called "the only real street in Kiev," and, along with

9785-413: Was celebrated with two separate marches, one of which was unofficial. The new President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to hold a military parade, instead which provoked the disagreement of veteran and volunteer organizations. and already on July 10 the preparation of an alternative parade was announced. The active preparation for the alternative parade prompted the President to change his position and announce

9888-612: Was deliberately employed by the Yanukovych administration is promoting a strategy of regional divide-and-rule through polarization, using May 9–style provocations, to maintain its eastern Ukrainian electorate permanently mobilized. Analysts have stated that as of February 2014, Russia was able to: According to the Institute of Modern Russia, the Kremlin also maintained a tight hold on Ukraine's president, Viktor Yanukovych . In November 2013,

9991-406: Was later found in a river in occupied Sloviansk on 22 April. The city administration building was seized on 30 April, solidifying separatist control over Horlivka. Other smaller towns, as well as government buildings, were seized by Russian-backed militants in the Donbas. In Artemivsk on 12 April, separatists failed to capture the local Ministry of Internal Affairs office, but instead captured

10094-597: Was lined up with 50 pieces of military equipment, including new models of the BTR-3 E and the "Wasp" anti-aircraft gun. More than a thousand troops from the Armed Forces, Interior Ministry and State Border Service took part in the parade. 120 of the 1,500 participants were participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Eastern Ukraine . Many denounced the parade as a waste of money and as an inappropriate event during

10197-408: Was listed as one of Europe's most expensive streets for renting commercial space. The Kyiv Independence Day Parades , passing through Khreshchatyk, have been held since 1994. In 2000/2001, Khreshchatyk and Maidan Nezalezhnosti became the centre of the mass protest campaign Ukraine without Kuchma . To keep the protesters out, the city mayor Oleksandr Omelchenko ordered the area to be fenced off as

10300-584: Was performed by a Ukrainian folk artist Ivo Bobul . Also first time as official title performed the march «Kozatska slava» ( Viktor Lisovol  [ uk ] ). The parade did not include military equipment. The 2003 Commander was the Chief of the Kyiv Garrison Colonel-General Petro Shulyak . Inspecting the parade was Defense Minister Yevhen Marchuk . The 2004 parade did not use military equipment. 19 battalions of soldiers took part in

10403-532: Was provided by the Massed Bands, which composed of 19 independent bands. Commanding the parade was the Ground Forces of Ukraine Colonel-General Ivan Svyda. The parade was inspected by the Chief of General Staff General of the Army Sergey Kirichenko. The 2014 parade was led by Lieutenant-General Anatoly Pushnyakov  [ uk ] . It was inspected by Defense Minister Valeriy Heletey . The capital

10506-399: Was re-paved, the tram line was removed and a trolleybus service began. During World War II, almost every building on Khreshchatyk was laid with explosives by the retreating Red Army troops. On 24 September 1941, five days after German troops had occupied the city, radio-controlled explosions were set off from over 400 kilometres (250 mi) away. The demolition of Khreshchatyk became

10609-476: Was similarly captured on 18 April. Following the takeover, local police announced that they would co-operate with the activists. Arsen Avakov , the Minister of Internal Affairs, said on 9 April that the separatist problem would be resolved within 48 hours through either negotiations or the use of force. According to the Ukrinform state news agency, he said: "There are two opposite ways for resolving this conflict –

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