On Dec. 6, Ukraine’s Armed Forces celebrated 29 years since they were officially established on the ashes of the Soviet military just weeks after Ukraine declared independence in August 1991.
Ever since the outbreak of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014, the country’s Armed Forces Day has become one of special, red-letter dates when Ukrainians commemorate troops fallen in battle and render thanks to all men and women in uniform.
Due to COVID-19 quarantine, Kyiv did not see any large celebrations — so a simple solemn ceremony was held in the Sofiyivska Square, with President Volodymyr Zelensky accompanied by the Honor Guard Battalion congratulating the military.
Later in the day, Zelensky went to the war zone in the Donbas, where he paid a visit to airborne formations deployed to the front line.
