UWC HONORS REMEMBRANCE DAY

Today, on this Remembrance Day, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and Ukrainian communities worldwide pay tribute to all the brave men and women who, throughout the years, have served their countries to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms that we cherish today. 

Remembrance Day is traditionally observed on 11 November to honor the end of the First World War hostilities in 1918. The aftermath of WWI saw drastic political, cultural, economic, and social change across Europe, Asia, and many other regions not directly involved in the war.   

Despite a common perception that the First World War brought an end to the age of empires, one of them – the Russian empire – managed to survive even until today, picking up different new forms throughout the last 100 years.

The Russian Federation remains a “prison of nations”, implements a systematic policy of forced assimilation of its enslaved indigenous peoples, carries on its imperialistic war of aggression against Ukraine and its people, and commits horrific atrocities and war crimes on a wide scale. What is more, it has been effectively sponsoring terrorist groups in various parts of the world for decades in an attempt to cripple the Trans-Atlantic unity and dismantle the rules-based international order. 

Today, we remember the fallen and also stand by all those who are defending Ukraine in its modern war for freedom and independence against brutal and deadly Russian imperialism. We bow our heads in honor of all the brave Ukrainian defenders who are sacrificing their lives not only for Ukraine but also for the basic fundamental democratic values of the Free World. 

In these dark times, we call upon the international democratic community to continue standing with Ukraine. Despite all the difficulties, we cannot allow democracy to lose and Russia to return the world to the era of empires and colonial wars. 

Lest we forget. 

Heroes never die!

Photo: NSW government