Today is Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes: honoring memory of fighters for Ukraine's freedom
Today, February 20, Ukraine honors the Day of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred - people who gave their lives for the ideals of democracy, dignity and the European future of the country during the Revolution of Dignity of 2013-2014.
Ukrainian News Agency will tell about the tragic events of February 20, 2014.
Thus, February 20, 2014 was the day when the largest number of participants in the Revolution were killed during the protests on Independence Square, in the center of Kyiv - 48 people. In total, 107 protesters, who were called the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, were killed in the winter of 2013-2014 and the spring of 2014. They became a symbol of the struggle of Ukrainians for their freedom and independence.
The protests began on November 21, 2013 as a reaction to a sharp change in foreign policy, the refusal of the then government to sign the Association Agreement with the EU. A peaceful student rally was brutally dispersed by security forces on the night of November 30.
This caused a wave of popular indignation, which grew into a large-scale civil protest.
Among the killed were representatives of different regions, professions, religions and nationalities. The youngest Hero was 17-year-old Nazariy Voytovych, the oldest was 82-year-old Ivan Nakonechnyi. Among them were three women: Antonina Dvorianets, Olha Bura and Liudmyla Sheremet.
The Revolution of Dignity was a turning point in Ukrainian history, showing the desire of Ukrainians for democracy. It also changed the course of events in the country, leading to the flight of then-President Viktor Yanukovych and the restart of the political system.
Today, monuments and memorial complexes dedicated to the Heavenly Hundred have been erected in Kyiv and other cities of Ukraine. In 2014, the Day of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred was approved at the state level to annually commemorate their feat.