Defenders’ Day (Ukraine, October 14)

Defender of Ukraine Day (Ukrainian: День захисника України) is a state holiday in Ukraine celebrated annually on 14 October. Its first celebration was in 2015. Starting from 2015, this day is considered a public holiday (this is thus a day off in Ukraine).

On 14 October 2014, a decree by Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko decreed the new holiday due to the Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present) and decommunization in Ukraine. This decree was approved by the Ukrainian parliament on 5 March 2015. The holiday replaced the former February 23's holiday called Defender of the Fatherland Day, which has its origin in the Soviet Union.