Liberation Day (Ukraine)
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The Liberation Day of Ukraine (Ukrainian: День визволення України), officially the Day of Liberation of Ukraine from Fascist Invaders (Ukrainian: День визволення України від фашистських загарбників), is a holiday celebrated annually on October 28 in Ukraine. It commemorates the Liberation of Ukraine from Nazi Germany on 28 October 1944.[1]
Day of Liberation of Ukraine from Fascist Invaders День визволення України від фашистських загарбників | |
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Official name | Day of the Liberation of Ukraine from fascist invaders |
Observed by | Ukraine |
Type | National |
Significance | Liberation from Nazi Germany |
Date | October 28 |
Next time | 28 October 2024 (2024-10-28) |
Related to | World War II |
The first settlements in Eastern Ukraine were liberated by the Red Army in December 1942. Major battles for the liberation of the Ukrainian SSR lasted from January 1943 to the autumn of 1944. At this time, half of Ukraine was in the hands of the Red Army.[2][3] On August 23, 1943, the city of Kharkiv was liberated. On October 27, 1944, Uzhhorod was retaken from the Germans, and Soviet troops arrived at what would be the modern western border of Ukraine.[4] On October 28, 1944, the last territory of current Ukraine (near Uzhhorod, then part of the Kingdom of Hungary[5]) was cleared of German troops; this is annually celebrated in Ukraine (on 28 October) as the "anniversary of the liberation of Ukraine from the Nazis".[6][7]