“Military parades have become the most important attribute of celebration of Independence Day of Ukraine. They were officially conducted 17 times in different format and scale. But only after the Russian invasion in 2014, Ukrainians seem to rethink the tradition of honoring their own army and military allies. During these years, the parades not only emotionally united citizens, but also reflected the internal discussions on the balance between symbolism”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
Military parades have become the most important attribute of celebration of Independence Day of Ukraine. They were officially conducted 17 times in different format and scale. But only after the Russian invasion in 2014, Ukrainians seem to rethink the tradition of honoring their own army and military allies.
During these years, the parades not only emotionally united citizens, but also reflected internal discussions on the balance between symbols, financial speculation and practical needs of the front.
UA.News mentions the most significant military parades in independent Ukraine and why society did not forgive the authorities to abolish them, perceiving it as a contempt for the army.
The tradition of military parades to Independence Day of Ukraine
The first military parade in Khreshchatyk in Kiev was held under the presidency of Leonid Kuchma on the third anniversary of independence – August 24, 1994. However, in the future, this tradition did not become annual, and the demonstration of military potential did not acquire any established format.
One of the largest was the 2001 military parade, the decade of Ukraine’s independence. The solemn parades also took place in 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2009. During the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych (2010-2013), the authorities have rejected the parades altogether.
Protest against such a decision, opposition parties independently staged a solemn course in the center of Kiev on August 24, 2011. The participants of the demonstration were moving from the monument to Taras Shevchenko to the Presidential Administration. But the police and fighters of Golden Eagle blocked them.
After 2014, when the defense against the armed attack of Russia, the parades gained special weight and meaning. Khreshchatyk marched off units from the front lines, participants of hostilities. In the center of the capital, a new weapon and equipment produced during the war by Ukrainian defense were displayed. A minute of silence for fallen warriors and honoring veterans was also obligatory.
However, later the authorities tried to change the format of military celebrations again. In 2019-2020, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy abandoned the classical parades, replacing them with “dignity” and measures with the participation of cultural figures.
In different years, there were many debate and criticism about the cost of such ceremonies, the amount and real state of military equipment, which was displayed.
2001 Military Parade: 10th Anniversary of Independence
On the anniversary of the 10th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence, a particularly large-scale parade was held. The celebration was invited by leaders of other countries, in particular in the podium was present President of Poland Alexander Kwasnevsky, and Russia was represented by Vladimir Putin.
Khreshchatyk passed 18 units, 173 units of equipment, 6.5 thousand servicemen. One of the ranks laid a solemn march in ancient Cossack uniform.
Also passed a column of new T-84 tanks, which were specially transported from the Kharkiv plant. Malyshev, as well as S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, missile systems of point-u and howitzers of MSTA-S.
The most spectators were amazed by the aviation part of the parade: the Su-24, Su-27 aircraft were represented, as well as transport An-74, AN-140, AN-124 Ruslan and the Giant An-225 “Dream”. In this parade the pilot group of the Air Forces of Ukraine “Ukrainian Falcons”, which was disbanded in 2002, participated in this parade.
Parades in other cities of Ukraine: Lviv and Vinnitsa, Odessa, Chernihiv and Sevastopol were also held to the 10th anniversary of independence.
2008 Military Parade: Against the background of Russian invasion of Georgia
Marking the 17th anniversary of independence, Ukraine had to demonstrate its readiness for defense. A few days earlier – August 8, 2008 – the Russian army invaded the territory Georgia and occupied South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
In such a tense geopolitical situation, a military parade was held on Khreshchatyk, attracting 3500 servicemen, 144 units of weapons and equipment.
Aviation capabilities were also demonstrated. 8 helicopters and 22 aircraft flew above the center of Kiev: Su-24MR SPECIKA Aircraft and three Su-24M bombers, six MiG-29 fighters, six Su-27 fighters, 4 Su-25 guns, IL-76 transport aircraft and MIR
Military Parade 2014: First after the Russian Federation attack on Ukraine
After a four -year break during the time of Viktor Yanukovych, illegal annexation of Crimea and with the beginning of hostilities in the Donbass, the tradition of the military parade was restored. In this way, the authorities aimed to raise the morale and patriotism of the Ukrainian military and people during the war.
The 2014 parade was attended by about 1.5 thousand servicemen of different troops, as well as representatives of the National Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Border Service, including 120 participants of hostilities in the Donbass.
About fifty units of military equipment were demonstrated on Khreshchatyk, including new samples of Spartan and Kuguar armored vehicles. They showed the reactive system of the Smerch Valley fire and the ASA, point B, C-300.
However, holding a solemn parade during the hot phase of battles in the Donbass, as well as a demonstration in the center of Kiev, weapons required in the East caused criticism. After the solemn march, part of the servicemen and equipment was immediately sent to the area of anti -terrorist operation (ATO).
Military Parade 2017: NATO soldiers were first
The Independence Parade in 2017 was the first with the participation of NATO military units. Khreshchatyk was traveled by servicemen of 10 partner countries, as well as there were ministers of defense of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Canada and the United States.
The parade was attended by 4.5 thousand Ukrainian servicemen, of which about a thousand ATO participants. On the same day, 70 samples of military equipment were exhibited from Khreshchatyk from Bessarabia Square to the European Square, including 25 novelties.
Military parade 2018: “Glory to Ukraine!”
Military celebrations for the 27th anniversary of independence became significant, as there was the first time there was a military greeting “Glory to Ukraine!” – “Glory to the Heroes!”. For the first time, the parade was attended by women-servicemen who were lined up with a separate column. Military chaplains also joined the festivities.
As with the previous parades, Khreshchatyk passed more than 4.5 thousand Ukrainian military, as well as the ranks of 18 partners, including NATO. Exhibited more than 250 pieces of equipment, their skills demonstrated pilots on L Itakach F-15 and Su-27.
Military Parade 2019: “March of Defenders of Ukraine”
The sixth President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky abolished the military parade on August 24, 2019. Instead, he promised to send funds, about 300 million UAH, for the Ukrainian military bonuses. Although in previous years the awards for the national holiday were also paid. So, in 2019, the celebration was not conducted, while the servicemen received a thousand UAH, and the members of the OOS-2 thousand.
Instead of the military parade, Khreshchatyk passed the “course of dignity” with the participation of servicemen, volunteers, diplomats, doctors, teachers, athletes and the leadership of the country. The performers sang the anthem of Ukraine on the Independence Square.
In response to the neutral policy of Zelensky to commemorate the military, on August 24, 2019, an alternative parade – “March of Defenders of Ukraine” was first held in the capital.
He was initiated by veteran organizations and the “Come Alive” Foundation. The columns were traveling veterans of the Russian-Ukrainian war, families of dead heroes, chaplains and volunteers.
2021 Military Parade: 30th Anniversary of Independence
In 2021, the authorities returned to the tradition of a large -scale military parade. By the 30th anniversary of independence organized the most massive celebrations for the history of Ukraine: about 5 thousand soldiers, about 400 units of equipment, 100 aircraft (including Bayraktar). For the first time, Khreshchatyk drove new “Neptune”, “alder”, armored vehicles “Dozor-B”, “Cossack-2M1”. The pride of the Ukrainian Air Industry, the world’s largest An-225 aircraft, also flew in the sky.
The largest parade in the independence cost about UAH 300 million. Some of the society considered such expenditures excessive for the country in a state of war.