On July 15, the country celebrates Statehood Day of Ukraine.

In honor of this national holiday, a ceremony was held in Odessa where flowers were laid at the monument of T.G. Shevchenko located in the park of the same name. 

Officials, military personnel, clergy, and local citizens participated in the celebrations. 

Odessa's mayor, Gennady Trukhanov, greeted everyone with words of encouragement: 

«Ukrainian statehood has its roots in Kievan Rus and has traversed centuries of struggle, faith, and self-sacrifice. Today, it is not just a historical fact, but a daily choice — to live with dignity, to speak the truth, and to act for the benefit of the community. This day reminds us that being Ukrainian means not only continuing our history but also firmly opposing those who seek to take away our freedom, dignity, and the right to be masters of our land. We do not remain silent when the truth is destroyed. We do not stop when it’s hard. We do not give up. Ukrainian statehood is us. In our words, our decisions, our daily resilience and solidarity. It is a symbol of unity, faith, and unyielding strength of our people».