THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE (08/27/06)

THE 15th ANNIVERSARY OF UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE

As Ukraine celebrates the 15th anniversary of its independence proclamation on August 24, 1991, it is fitting to look back at the events related to that historic day. On this page are several photos from that period (seen clockwise, beginning with the photo directly above this text. 1) August 21, 1991: Oleksander Yemets addresses a rally in Kyiv that celebrated the end of the coup in Moscow and demanded accountability for the actions and inactions of the Ukrainian SSR's leaders. With Mr. Yemets are: Volodymyr Yavorivsky, Dmytro Pavlychko and Les Taniuk. 2) August 24, 1991: Deputies of the opposition National Council carry a huge blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag into the Ukrainian SSR Supreme Soviet (Council) session hall after the Act of Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine was approved by people's deputies. 3) August-September 1991: Kyiv's Lenin monument is surrounded by construction barriers. The signs read: "In accordance with a decision of the Municipal Executive Committee, preparations are under way for the dismantling of the monument" and "Please pardon us for these temporary inconveniences." Dismantling of the monument, which stood in what today is known as Independence Square, began on September 9, 1991.

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