ISLAMABAD, JAN 19 /DNA/ – Every year on January 22 Ukrainian people
commemorate two significant historical events including the Proclamation
of Independence of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in 1918 and the Act
of Unification of Ukrainian lands a year later in 1919.

National unity is not only a basic value on itself, but also is an
essential prerequisite for viability of any state, its ability
successfully resist internal threats and external aggression. Therefore,
the Day of Unity is an occasion to remind that despite the temporary
occupation Crimea and territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions,
Ukrainian Nation remains united, said a press release here on Wednesday.

Despite all the threats, Ukrainian people, the leadership of the country
hand to hand with international partners will make each and every effort
to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukrainian state
by all available means, including political, legal and diplomatic.
Ukraine is committed to diplomacy. It is seeking peace, justice and
security not only for itself, but also for the entire Europe.

The Ukrainian People’s Republic was the first Ukrainian state in the
20th century, so August 24, 1991, not the acquisition but the
restoration of Ukrainian statehood took place.
The Ukrainian People’s Republic was the first among newly established
states in Eastern Europe, which declared independence – earlier than the
Baltic states, Poland and the Czech Republic.

The proclamation of the Unity of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the
Western Ukrainian People’s Republic on January 22, 1919 meant
unification of the Ukrainian lands in single state. These events, laid
the basis for modern Ukrainian statehood.

The Act of Unification marked the culmination of the unification
movement, which lasted from the mid-nineteenth century on Ukrainian
lands divided between different states.

That time, Ukrainian independence was overthrown by the Bolsheviks,
waging a “hybrid warfare” against Ukraine. Ukraine’s loss of
independence because of the Bolshevik occupation in the long run led to
millions losses in lives during the Holodomor, repressions and war.