You're reading: Zelensky signs law renaming Defender’s Day of Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the law On Amendments to Article 73 of the Labor Code of Ukraine 431643-IX, which was adopted by Parliament on July 14, 2021, according to which the name of the holiday is “Defender of Ukraine Day”, which is celebrated annually October 14, changes to the “Day of Men and Women Defenders of Ukraine”.

“The document will promote gender-balanced coverage of the role of servicemen in the defense of our country and proper honoring of soldiers of both sexes. After all, many women along with men participated in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the head of state said on Aug. 4.

The law enters into force on the day following the day of its publication.

The Verkhovna Rada reportedly passed the bill on July 14 by 317 votes. According to the data of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, published in the explanatory note, 31,757 women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, about a 1,000 of them are senior officers, the status of a participant in hostilities for participation in anti-terrorist operation/Joint Forces Operation is granted to 9,916 women and 166 166 female servicemen have been awarded state awards of Ukraine since 2014.

As is known, Ukraine annually celebrates the Day of the Defender of Ukraine since October 14, 2014. This holiday was established by Presidential Decree No. 806/2014 of October 14, 2014.