Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 () is a national holiday and non-working day in Ukraine established in 2023. Its first celebration will be in 2024. The holiday is celebrated on May 8 and has replaced Victory Day over Nazism in World War II that was previously celebrated on May 9, from 2015 to 2023.
History
According to opinion polling by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, in 2010, almost 60% of Ukrainians considered Victory Day (the holiday that commemorated the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in 1945) one of the biggest holidays. In 2022, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, only 13% of Ukrainians were ready to celebrate May 9.
On May 8, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree according to which Ukraine celebrates Europe Day on May 9, and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament) a bill establishing May 8, the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945, as a day off instead of Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9. In a speech that day Zelenskyy stated that "We are returning to our state an honest history without ideological admixtures." He also stressed that "It was on May 8 that the Act of Unconditional Surrender of the Wehrmacht entered into force."
On May 29, 2023, the Verkhovna Rada made the Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 on May 8 as a public holiday, canceling the Victory Day over Nazism in World War II on May 9.
On June 12, 2023, President Zelenskyy signed this law.
Symbols
The official symbol of celebration of both Day of Remembrance and Victory over Nazism in World War II 1939 – 1945 and the Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for the Fallen is the red poppy (remembrance poppy) flower, which is the common symbol of the memorable days of Second World War all over the world (more recognizable in the British Commonwealth of Nations). It has been used in Ukraine in its own styling developed by Kharkiv designer Serhii Mishakin. The official motto is "1939—1945. We remember, We prevail!" (: "Pamyataemo. Peremahaemo")
See also
Liberation Day (Ukraine) Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War