Ukraine’s Independence Day on August 24 is one of three significant holidays that Kharkiv locals celebrate in the last month of summer. Before that, on August 23, there is National Flag Day and the Kharkiv City Day.
A city that's located less than 20 miles from the Russian border is keenly aware of the danger Russian strikes pose to it — of the threat to any gathering of the people. Still, on August 24, Kharkiv central streets were breathing with life and joy and people since early afternoon.
Many came here in vyshyvankas, traditional embroidered shirts in Ukraine, and blue and yellow symbols. Musicians held impromptu concerts and jams. Artists painted portraits. With no events organized for the 34th Independence Day by the City Council, locals were creating a festive mood across the city on their own.
There were no air attacks on Kharkiv during the day, but when the air raid sound understandably unsettled many.
“Honestly, we are scared," said Ella, a local who was taking a walk with her family. "Russia is very close; there are constant sirens. That’s why we won’t be in the center (this evening), but we will be watching everything on social media.”
People stopped to sing along to Ukrainian songs playing in the park and took photos of the cityscape. Cars with Ukrainian flags on the roofs drove by the banner with congratulations on Independence Day, hanging from the building of the Kharkiv regional administration, which was severely damaged by Russian missiles in March 2022.
In the daytime, Kharkiv looked like it did before the war, almost every summer weekend in Kharkiv. Nostalgia played a role — some could not hold back joyful tears as they felt that the city was alive again.
“Today, we are celebrating Independence Day together for the first time in a while, because our children were young and we paid all our attention to their upbringing,” Ruslan and Tatiana, a couple from Kharkiv, share with Gwara. “We are glad that there are at least some positive things despite the war.”
Kharkiv locals agreed that any holiday is made by people, although everyone understood this in their own way.
Some mentioned the military, “because it is thanks to them that we can celebrate here, in our hometown.” Others noted the efforts of the city authorities, who still tried to create a space for the holidays. There were also those who said that people create their own mood, so it is important to “maintain this bit of light and positivity, no matter what.”
In the evening, people began to gather on Sumska Street, the main street of the city. They waited for "starry sky" — a light installation that shone every day before the full-scale war, but after, it was on just a few times during holidays. Last year and this year, the "starry sky" was lit on City Day. No one knew whether it would be turned to celebrate Ukraine's Independence.
“Yesterday, the lights were turned on at 8 p.m.,” said the local, patiently watching the garlands through her phone screen in the crowd. Her camera’s timer had already passed 15 minutes. “I want to have time to film as they light up.”
Some activists and politicians felt that the City Day, celebrated on August 23 and fiercely loved by many Kharkiv locals, overshadows the celebration of Ukraine's Independence Day the next day. The topic of whether or not the holiday honoring the city has to be observed on this date has been strongly debated over the last two years, with many advocating for de-sovietization and decolonization of Kharkiv.
The City Day on August 23 was established in 1997 to "highlight" the liberation of Kharkiv from the German occupation in 1943. From 1987 to 1997, this holiday was celebrated on September 20. The Red Army actually didn't push German troops out of the city on August 23, 1943, but this was the date that Marshal Ivan Konev wrote in his false report. The fighting on the outskirts of Kharkiv continued until the end of August.
Some of those who oppose the celebration of this day believe that the date was picked intentionally, to dim Ukraine's Independence Day with Soviet narratives.
“When you have two big holidays in a row, the first one will be perceived as a holiday itself, and the second one as a kind of “afterparty.” Awards, celebrations — everything seems to be for both holidays at once, but still more is (dedicated) for the first one on the calendar,” said a polician and active military officer Ihor Cherniak.
This year, the City Council really put up many decorations for the holidays (bought with the money of "responsible businesses") but organized no events on Independence Day, citing safety. Even in the subway, as opposed to at least eight of them — concerts and theater plays — held underground on August 23.
Eventually, “Starry Sky” was turned on. Locals organized an improvised car rally, lining up to drive slowly under the illumination. Drivers honked and waved to passersby, and blue and yellow flags flew above almost every car.
People held a minute of silence on the Constitution Square in memory of the fallen defenders. The location was decorated with candle-shaped installations, and portraits of the fallen Ukrainians stood near the Independence Monument, which had been hidden by protective bags for three years.
Suddenly, a chant came from the crowd: “Heroes never die!”
“Now I feel differently about Independence Day. I realized the cost of it after the full-scale invasion. It’s extremely important because we can celebrate the independence of our country, which we have fought for for centuries,” said Nina, a soldier who was taking a walk through the cheerful, celebratory mood of the city in the last hours of her day off.
This August, Gwara celebrated its 10th anniversary. Whatever awaits Ukraine in Russia’s war, our Kharkiv-based newsroom plans to keep reporting on it. Please, support our journalism by buying us a coffee or subscribing to our Patreon.
Read more
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- “I cried when I saw Kharkiv laugh again.” Nina Khyzhna on how Nafta Theater embraces changes that come with war
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