The following release was received from the Ukrainian World Congress on May 9.
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) and the 20-million strong Ukrainian diaspora join the international community in remembering the millions of victims of World War II, and the brave men and women who helped defeat Nazi Germany and the fascist ideology it represented 73 years ago on May 8, 1945.
Ukrainian people fought valiantly against two occupying regimes – Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, and the end of World War II did not bring peace to their land. Ukraine was forced to continue fighting the Soviet regime that persecuted and denied the Ukrainian people the fundamental right to live freely until the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence on August 24,1991.
In 2018, Ukrainian women and men are forced, once again, to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine against the Russian Federation that refuses to respect internationally recognized borders and the fundamental human rights of every Ukrainian.
“The Ukrainian World Congress remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice for a free world, and expresses gratitude to those who fought and continue to fight against imperialist regimes that threaten global peace and stability,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.