Ukraine this weekend is marking the anniversary of the culmination of the EuroMaidan Revolution. Thousands gathered on Independence Square on Feb. 20 to remember the Heavenly Hundred, the more than 100 demonstrators killed during three months of protests that forced President Viktor Yanukovych from power. Yanukovych fled the nation in fear on Feb. 21, 2014, leaving behind his billion-dollar estate and documents that incriminate him in massive financial corruption since taking power in 2010. He and his top former aides are being sheltered in Russia by President Vladimir Putin, who refuses to extradite them. Yanukovych faces murder and corruption charges in Ukraine.Poroshenko accused Putin aide Vladyslav Surkov of organizing the sniper attacks that killed the EuroMaidan protesters, accusations denied by Russia.In response to the overthrow of the Kremlin-backed Yanukovych, Putin invaded Ukraine's Crimean peninsula on Feb. 27 and formally annexed it a month later. He instigated war against Ukraine in the eastern Donbas. Additionally, Ukrainian officials allege that many acts of terrorism have taken place in cities of Ukraine that they suspect are being directed from Moscow.
The following are excerpts from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko’s address to Ukrainians on Independence Square on Feb. 20. They can be read on the president’s official website as well here.
“The Revolution of Dignity has become the first and, what is most important, victorious battle in the war for our independence,” Poroshenko noted.
“They stood here side by side, representatives of various ethnicities, religions, people from the east and west, north and south; people who spoke Ukrainian, Russian and other languages. Common homeland, Ukraine, love to the country and heroic struggle for decent European future of our state united them,” the Head of State emphasized.
The president has stressed that Maidan had fought not against marionette regime of Yanukovych, but for the European future of Ukraine. “When the enemy saw that peaceful Anschluss of Ukraine with the Customs Union failed, it decided to tear Ukraine apart with tanks and Grads. However, this venture also failed. The newly-created Ukrainian army with the assistance of the nationwide volunteer support stopped the enemy on the far-east frontiers. Born not for war Ukrainians, peaceful Ukrainians, for we are a peaceful nation, took the weapons and stopped the well-trained army – one of the most powerful armies in the world,” the President said.
Poroshenko has noted that it had been the feat of the Heavenly Hundred, which had inspired hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to struggle against Russian aggression. “A powerful enemy, much more numerous and, unfortunately, much better equipped, confronts us. It has been elaborating plans of attacking us for years. It has been training its armed forces and forming the fifth column inside Ukraine for this end. But we are stronger, for the Lord and the truth are with us. For us, it is a war for our land. It is fair for us, not for the enemy. The whole world recognizes this and demonstrates solidarity with Ukraine,” the head of state emphasized.
The president has underlined the need for preserving unity.
“We have demonstrated that on the front and will now prevent the opening of the internal front, over which the special forces of the neighboring state are persistently working by spreading fear, panic, disbelief in our powers and distrust of Ukrainians in one another. We will break this scenario and win, just like we did before!” the president noted. “I am confident that Ukraine will live in peace, develop and move towards Europe. It will happen thanks to our guardian angels: Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and thousands of knights who sacrificed their lives for Ukraine.”
After these words son of Hero of the Heavenly Hundred, Hero of Ukraine Andriy Tsepun together with the President has launched symbolic “Rays of Dignity”, each from the place where a man died a year ago. The Head of State has declared the nationwide moment of silence. Then, the song “Plyve Kacha” was performed.
Together with the chairman of the Parliament, Volodymyr Groysman, and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the president laid icon-lamps to the People’s Memorial to the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred. In the course of the ceremony, people shouted: “Heroes do not die!”
