On July 15, the country celebrates Ukrainian Statehood Day.

In honor of this national holiday, flowers were laid at the monument to T.G. Shevchenko in the park named after him in Odesa. 

The ceremony was attended by regional and city leaders, law enforcement, military personnel, clergy, and the public. 

The mayor of Odesa, Hennadiy Trukhanov, congratulated everyone on the national holiday: 

«Ukrainian statehood began with Kyivan Rus and has traversed centuries of struggle, faith, and self-sacrifice. Today, it is not just a historical fact but a daily choice — to live with dignity, to speak the truth, and to act for the benefit of the community. This day reminds us that being Ukrainian means not only continuing our history but also resolutely opposing those who seek to take away our freedom, dignity, and right to be masters of our land. We do not stay silent when the truth is destroyed. We do not stop when it gets hard. We do not give up. Ukrainian statehood is us. It is in our words, our decisions, our daily resilience and solidarity. It is a sign of unity, faith, and unwavering strength of the people».