The date of October 14 combines three cornerstone Ukrainian holidays: Christian holiday of the Blessed Virgin, anniversary of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, and The Day of Ukrainian Cossacks. Traditionally, on this day people honor the heroes of the UPA. The most massive celebration is held in Kyiv and Lviv.
Despite the cold weather and rain, nearly 10,000 nationally aware citizens took part in the rally and march in honor of the UPA anniversary in Kyiv. Yurii Mykhalchyshyn, deputy of the Lviv City Council from Svoboda Party (organizers of the event) interpreted the weather in his own way saying: “The sky is crying: angels think of those who in 1942 picked up guns and went to fight till the end.”
Taras Shevchenko Park near the University that also bears the name of the great Ukrainian poet, which became the meeting point for those who wanted to join in the march, was filled with yellow-blue, red and black flags, and banners of the Svoboda Party. While activists gathered there, martial songs of Ukrainian insurgents could be heard near the Shevchenko monument.
The organizers stressed that October 14 is a true Ukrainian holiday and UPA serves as a sort of a test for political matureness, Ukrainianess, and historical awareness. Svoboda activists emphasized that Ukrainians still do not have any accurate information about the insurgents, because Soviet ideology for years concealed or distorted and deliberately misinterpreted the history of the national liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people in the 20th century. According to them, everything that was done by UPA was not done in vain, moreover, after all it was a great success: golden trident and blue and yellow flag that were used by the nationalist army are currently the symbols of independent Ukrainian state. In addition to that Mykhalchyshyn noted that these flags have never been disgraced – UPA soldiers never surrendered and never lost faith in their strength because they were the chosen sons of their people.
However, Svoboda activists unanimously noted that the confrontation still continues. Despite the fact that sovereign Ukraine has been already established, the activists are convinced that the state must be filled with Ukrainian content. Oleksandr Bryhynets, member of the United Opposition shares this opinion. “The front line runs around everyone,” said Bryhynets explaining it by the fact that, unlike in the time of UPA, who fought against German and Soviet invasion, we now have enemies within the country.
In view of the upcoming elections, traditional party rhetoric could not be avoided. Thus, Iryna Farion, member of Svoboda Party urged people to stop being spineless and tolerant, which brought Ukrainians to a dead-lock, and to distinguish clearly between the values that we should cherish and the things we should utterly hate. The leader of the party Oleh Tiahnybok, in his turn, urged the rally participants to be ready for a revolution. “If we fail to defend the Ukrainian state in a peaceful way, we should be ready for more decisive actions,” said Tiahnybok. After he said this somebody yelled from the crowd: “To arms!” But this did not cause any resonance. According to the leader of Svoboda, the main task of Ukrainian people today is to create a state based on social and national justice, the way UPA fighters dreamed to build.
Famous Ukrainian poet Dmytro Pavlychko, author of the poem “Two Colors,” where red and black appear as a constant reminder of UPA, outlined a somewhat different goal for modern generation. “The most important task today is to bring eastern and western Ukraine together,” said the writer. “I was a member of rebel detachment and I remember that we had kurin otamans from Poltava and Chernihiv. This should be a big holiday in eastern Ukraine as well.” Pavlychko added: “Roman Shukhevych [UPA chief. – Author] traveled all over Ukraine as a great commander of a European army.”
Despite the presence of party symbols, many people decided to participate in the march, ignoring the political context. “I am here not because I support Svoboda,” explained Halyna. She says that UPA represents the pages that were ripped from Ukrainian history until the Orange Revolution and attempts are still made today to conceal and distort these facts. “Insurgents fought for their own families and their native land, that is why I decided to honor their memory,” said the young lady.
After the rally people went to St. Michael’s Square where a rock concert finished the program of The Day. Despite the fact that there were no clashes with the communists who organized a counter-action near the monument to Lenin and gathered no more than 50 supporters, there still were some excesses. Members of the Autonomous Resistance movement and Dynamo-Ultras movement used firecrackers and smoke bombs. They held a poster that read: “Freedom to Pavlinchenkos.” After reaching their point of destination, the activists burned flags of the Party of Regions and Communist Party on St. Michael’s Square.
