Holidays of Ukraine - Day of Honoring Participants in Combat Actions on the Territory of Other States

Every year on February 15, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Honoring Participants in Combat Actions on the Territory of Other States. At the national level, this holiday was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated February 12, 2004. This date is not new in the calendar of Ukrainian holidays. Until 2004, this day was known as the Day of the Withdrawal of Soviet Troops from Afghanistan. People simply called this day – Afghan Day. The date of the celebration was not chosen by chance. The fact is that on February 15, 1989, the last armed formations of the Soviet army, which took part in the civil war in Afghanistan, were withdrawn. According to some official data, more than two thousand Ukrainian soldiers died in this war. More than 4 thousand returned crippled. About a hundred are still considered missing. And these are just official statistics. Some soldiers who fought in Afghanistan claim that there were significantly more killed and wounded, but the official authorities are still silent about the exact number of deaths. Of course, the war in Afghanistan was the largest military operation outside the Soviet Union in which Soviet troops took part. But she wasn't the only one. At various times, the Soviet army took part in military conflicts in Egypt, Cuba, Chile, Ethiopia and many other countries. But there was no separate holiday dedicated to the participants in the hostilities in these countries. Many military personnel were outraged by this fact. Therefore, various civilian organizations representing the interests of these military personnel have repeatedly submitted requests to the President to establish a special day dedicated to the merits of these military personnel. As a result of their efforts, in February 2004 it was decided to create a single holiday that would celebrate the merits of all military personnel who served outside their country. Traditionally, on this day various conferences and meetings are held, and flowers are ceremoniously laid at monuments to Afghans. The President of Ukraine meets with representatives of veterans of these wars and holds awards. Special liturgies are held in churches and temples dedicated to the memory of fallen soldiers.