The Embassy of Ukraine in Nigeria on Sunday marked the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, describing the occasion as a reflection of centuries-long aspiration for statehood and self-determination.

Ukraine’s ambassador to Nigeria, Ivan Kholostenko, said this at a private ceremony in Abuja to mark the country’s independence anniversary.

Mr Kholostenko said the anniversary was not simply a date on the calendar or merely the anniversary of a decision adopted in 1991.

He described it as a day that embodied the Ukrainian people’s enduring struggle for freedom, statehood and the right to determine their own future.

According to him, Ukrainian statehood did not begin in 1991, stressing that modern Ukraine was heir to more than a thousand years of state-building tradition.

He traced the country’s historical journey from Kyivan Rus and the Cossack state to the Ukrainian People’s Republic and successive generations that fought for freedom under empires and totalitarian regimes.

The envoy recalled that on January 22, 1918, the Ukrainian People’s Republic first proclaimed independence, marking an important milestone in the country’s struggle for self-determination.

He said that more than seven decades later, on August 24, 1991, Ukrainians restored their state, a decision later confirmed by a nationwide referendum.

Mr Kholostenko noted that the December 1, 1991 referendum recorded 90.32 per cent support for independence among those who voted.

He said the decision received support across every region of Ukraine, from Lviv to Donbas and from Kyiv to Crimea, describing it as the free and unequivocal choice of the Ukrainian people.

The envoy said Ukraine’s independence was achieved through enormous sacrifice, noting that Ukrainian dissidents paid for their convictions with their freedom while soldiers of different generations paid with their lives.

He added that millions of Ukrainians contributed through their daily efforts to preserve the country’s language, culture and national identity when the very possibility of being Ukrainian was under threat.

The envoy said the struggle for independence continued in the present circumstances, alleging that Russia was waging a war aimed not only at Ukrainian territory but also at denying the Ukrainian state and nation the right to exist.

He therefore described the ongoing conflict as a war for independence and called for increased international pressure on Russia through stronger sanctions, continued military assistance and greater protection for Ukrainian cities against missile attacks.

Mr Kholostenko said Ukraine sought a just and lasting peace and remained ready to take meaningful, realistic steps toward achieving it, but stressed that peace should not be built by rewarding aggression.

He maintained that Ukraine was not only defending its own independence but was also making a direct contribution to international stability through its defence efforts.

The envoy said the Ukrainian Armed Forces, defence technologies, battlefield experience and innovations had made the country an important security partner in the international community.

He thanked countries and individuals supporting Ukraine, saying every air defence system, assistance package and political decision in defence of international law helped save lives and bring a just peace closer.

He said Ukraine’s independence was also reflected in the daily lives of its citizens, as they rebuilt destroyed infrastructure, educated their children, worked, developed technology and volunteered while soldiers continued to defend the country on the front lines.

Mr Kholostenko said that 35 years ago, Ukrainians confirmed their choice before the world and were now defending that choice with arms in their hands, insisting that Ukraine’s independence was, is and would remain irreversible.

The anniversary ceremony also featured tributes to those who died for Ukraine’s independence and those currently defending the country.

(NAN)