On March 14, Ukraine honors volunteers – individuals who, despite not being military professionals, chose to defend their country in times of crisis by taking up arms voluntarily.

This date is significant as it marks the day in 2014 when the first volunteers left Maidan to head to a training facility in Novy Petrivtsi, where they began preparing to fight for Ukraine's territorial integrity.

Today, our nation is facing its greatest challenge in modern history – armed conflict against the Russian aggressor, threatening our independence and territorial integrity. In these tough times, as always, brave warriors of goodwill rise to defend their homeland, embodying courage, self-sacrifice, and heroism.

In honor of Ukrainian Volunteer Day, a ceremony was held in Odesa to lay flowers at the Memorial for Fighters for Ukraine in the Square of Glory and Freedom.

Throughout March, educational institutions and libraries will host cultural, artistic, and educational events related to this theme.

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The decision to celebrate Ukrainian Volunteer Day was made by Resolution No. 1822 of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on January 17, 2017, to strengthen the patriotic spirit in society and increase public attention to the participants of volunteer formations.