The Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity, initiated by the President of Ukraine had its first official observance at the national level on the 21st of May 2025. This day marked an important tribute to the multiethnic composition of Ukrainian society and a deliberate step toward strengthening unity in diversity.
The official part of the celebration took place at the M. M. Hryshko National Botanical Garden, where the Garden of Interethnic Harmony was planted. Representatives of national minorities (communities) and Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine planted trees as symbols of peace, trust, and co-creation.
In a broader format, events were held at the Expocenter of Ukraine (VDNG), where more than 40 regional minority communities shared elements of their cultural heritage — languages, songs, traditional clothing, crafts, and cuisine. All of this created a vibrant mosaic of a living, polyphonic Ukraine grounded in mutual respect and shared values.
The events were attended by representatives of state authorities, community leaders, international organizations, and human rights institutions. Among them were the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniienko, Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Oleh Nemchinov, Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience Viktor Yelenskyi, Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov, as well as representatives of the Council of National Communities of Ukraine and international organizations.
The celebration served as a testament to the fact that the strength of Ukrainian statehood lies in its cohesion — where every culture enriches the shared identity, and solidarity in times of war is our response to the challenges of today.
The events were supported by the joint project of the European Union and the Council of Europe ”Support for Implementing European Standards Relating to Anti-discrimination and Rights of National Minorities in Ukraine” and the Council of Europe project “Support for the Reform of the Legal Framework on National Minorities and Strengthening the Resilience of National Minorities and Roma in Ukraine” – Phase II.
