Territorial Defense Day of Ukraine

The Day of Territorial Defense of Ukraine was introduced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyi — it is celebrated every first Sunday of October. The official basis for the establishment of the holiday was Decree No. 417/2020 «On the Day of Territorial Defense of Ukraine».

In 2017, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine developed a project to improve the organization of territorial defense. The reorganization provided for the formation of territorial defense brigades in all regions, which began in 2018. Each region of Ukraine has at least one brigade, and border regions — more than one.

Territorial Defense Day in Ukraine was established to highlight the importance of ensuring Ukraine’s national defense capability and territorial integrity, especially given the war in eastern Ukraine that has been ongoing since 2014. The victorious end of this war and the preservation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine are among the most important priorities of state policy.