Tuesday, August 23, 2016

President Poroshenko: Ukrainian flag should fly over Crimea (Tavrida) and Donbass

The Ukrainian President said Tuesday that the Ukrainian flag should once again fly over areas lost to Russian annexation and pro-Russian rebel occupation.

Petro Poroshenko made the announcement in a speech during National Flag Day celebrations in Ukraine.

"We have the extremely complicated task of making our flag fly again in Donetsk and Luhansk and in (the Crimean cities of) Simferopol and Sevastopol," he said.

The south-eastern Crimean peninsula was lost to Russian annexation in 2014, the same year that violent clashes erupted in the eastern Donbass region between Ukrainian armed forces and pro-Russian separatists.

Poroshenko recalled Soviet times in the country, when authorities attempted hide the flag's history and even prevent its colors_ blue and yellow_ from appearing in public places.

"To publicly exhibit our national flag was an act of heroism because the action, rare in that era, was considered a serious crime," he added.

He remembered the case from 50 years ago when two young nationals were sent to prison for planting the Ukrainian flag on the roof of the Kiev National Economy Institute.

Poroshenko then led a minute's silence to commemorate those who lost their lives during Ukraine's fight for independence, 25 years ago.

Ukraine Independence Day is due to be officially celebrate on Wednesday.

At the end of the ceremony the President announced he was to travel to the eastern regions of the country to celebrate flag day and independence day with the soldiers on the front.

The soldiers guaranteed the nation's liberty, democracy and sovereignty, the President said.

According to figures released by the United Nations, the conflict in eastern regions of Ukraine has killed around 10,000 people since 2014.
 EFE
23/8/16
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