However, large-scale gatherings have been banned in the country's capital of Kyiv until Thursday as there is fear that the national holiday might bring particularly heavy Russian missile attacks.
Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday commenced the country's 31st Independence Day, six months after Russian soldiers invaded and unleashed war on the country.
However, large-scale gatherings have been banned in the country's capital of Kyiv until Thursday as there is fear that the national holiday might bring particularly heavy Russian missile attacks.
In his Independence Day message, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the public to be vigilant.
“Russian provocations and brutal strikes are a possibility,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Please strictly follow the safety rules. Please observe the curfew. Pay attention to the air sirens. Pay attention to official announcements. And remember: we must all achieve victory together,” The Sun quoted the President's statement.
It was reported that a small number of residents gathered at Kyiv’s central square, where destroyed Russian tanks and mobile artillery were put on display over the weekend, and the national anthem is played every day at 7 a.m. local time.
A retiree identified Tetyana, was also quoted as saying, “I can’t sleep at night because of what I see and hear about what is being done in Ukraine.
“This is not a war. It is the destruction of the Ukrainian people.”
It could be recalled that Wednesday’s holiday Independence Day celebration marks Ukraine’s 31 years of sovereignty since the 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
But the car bombing outside Moscow that killed the 29-year-old daughter of right-wing Russian political theorist Alexander Dugin on Saturday has heightened fears that Russia might intensify attacks on Ukraine this week