Ukraine to observe Remembrance and Reconciliation Day on May 8 – decree

15:17, 24.03.2015 1 min read

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree establishing the Remembrance and Reconciliation Day to be marked on May 8.

The decree "pays tribute to the feat of the Ukrainian people and their outstanding contribution to the victory of the anti-Hitler coalition in WWII and respect to all fighters against the Nazis, commemorates deceased soldiers and victims of war, war crimes, deportations and crimes against humanity committed in the war years, bolsters care for war veterans, participants in the Ukrainian liberation movement of that period and victims of persecution by the Nazi, establishes succession of traditions of victors who defeated the Nazi and present-day defenders of the fatherland, consolidates society around the idea of Ukraine defense, and marks the 70th anniversary of victory over the Nazi in Europe and the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII in 2015."

"To establish the Remembrance and Reconciliation Day in Ukraine to be annually observed on May 8," says the decree posted on the presidential website on Tuesday.