Ukraine celebrates the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity for the first time at the national level

On May 21, 2025, Ukraine celebrated the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity for the first time at the national level. This holiday was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated December 27, 2024, as a recognition of the unique value of each national community and indigenous people who have for centuries been enriching the common Ukrainian culture.

Events on this day took place all over Ukraine, from cities to the smallest communities. The Forum of National Minorities and Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, which took place today in Kyiv, was the centerpiece of the day. More than 300 participants gathered in the capital - representatives of national minorities and indigenous peoples, government officials, diplomats, international partners, and public figures.

"Today is the first time in the history of Ukraine that such an important day for all of us is being celebrated, in accordance with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decree. This means only one thing: we are united. And we are united in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Security and Defense of Ukraine. There are no nationalities there, everyone is a soldier who defends our country and can only be distinguished by a pixel or a part of the security and defense forces to which they belong. However, they are all political Ukrainians. So I want to thank you, and despite the fact that each of us has losses, Today we honored all our fellow citizens whose lives were taken by the russian war, just as we remember all those who are in russian captivity. I would also like to thank the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience for organizing such events and integrating many elements related to national memory into this day. Thank you for your resilience and for your faith!" said Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in his welcoming remarks.

The slogan of this year's celebration is “Everyone has their own voice, but we have one heart” - resonates deeply, especially now, when the enemy is trying to divide us on either linguistic, ethnic or religious grounds, we are even more aware of the value of our unity in diversity.

First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Kornienko said: "By celebrating the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity for the first time, we honor the unique contribution of each community to the unified Ukrainian cultural heritage. The enemy tried to divide us and failed. And it will not work. Ukraine's strength is in our unity, where everyone has a voice, but we have one heart. Unity in diversity is not just a slogan, it is a principle that unites us with Europe and leads to common success."

The key event was the solemn laying of the Garden of Interethnic Harmony in the M.M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden as a living symbol of unity, openness and coexistence of cultures that will unite the hearts of people of different ethnic backgrounds. It is symbolic that it was representatives of various national minorities and indigenous peoples who planted the first trees of this garden, putting in them the hope for peace, harmony and a common future. This space has become a living embodiment of the idea of unity in diversity. Its entrance is marked by two poplars, which, like gates, open the way to the new garden. One of the poplars was planted by Oleh Nemchinov, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, together with Mykola Tochytskyi, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. The garden is designed to unite the hearts of representatives of all cultures who lovingly call Ukraine home.

Upon completion of the Garden's laying, Viktor Yelenskyy, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, said: "The State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience initiated this event as the beginning of an annual tradition - so that every year in the spring we gather here together as one big family and plant new trees on the terraces adjacent to this plateau. We are all waiting for Ukraine's victory and the establishment of a just peace on our land."