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Zelensky signs decree on celebrating Europe Day instead of Victory Day on May 9 in Ukraine

On May 8, Ukrainian President proposes to celebrate the Day of Remembrance and victory over Nazism in World War II

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky EPA-EFE/Robin van Lonkhuijsen

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

© EPA-EFE/Robin van Lonkhuijsen

MOSCOW, May 8. /TASS/. On Monday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed a decree on celebrating Europe Day on May 9 in the country.

"[Hereby to] establish Europe Day in Ukraine, which is celebrated annually on May 9 together with the states of the European Union," the text of the decree, published on the website of the Ukrainian head of state, says.

In Zelensky's video message, published on his Telegram channel, he also indicated that from tomorrow, Europe Day will be celebrated annually in Ukraine. On May 8, Zelensky proposes to celebrate the Day of Remembrance and victory over Nazism in World War II.

For many years, the Ukrainian authorities have tried to eradicate the celebration of Victory Day. Until today, on May 9, Ukraine celebrated the Day of Victory over Nazism in World War II, which replaced the Day of Victory over fascism in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, and on May 8, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation. These changes were approved by the Verkhovna Rada in 2015 as part of the implementation of the decommunization policy. Since that time, the red poppy has become a symbol of victory for the Ukrainians in the European manner. Although May 9 remains a day off, the Ukrainian authorities do their best to prevent the celebration of Victory Day. For the St. George ribbon, citizens face criminal or administrative liability. Last year, Zelensky and the Ukrainian Defense Ministry published a congratulation on May 9, attaching to it a photograph of a Ukrainian soldier with an emblem similar to the symbol of the SS Totenkopf division.

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