At the beginning of the twentieth century, humanity entered a period of profound upheaval and rapid change. The old world order, based on the existence of large empires, began to collapse. This transformation was preceded by a number of global processes.

The Second Industrial Revolution. Since the late nineteenth century, science had increasingly begun to serve humanity: cities lit up, machines replaced manual labor, and advances in transportation and communication shortened distances. For the first time, the world felt truly interconnected. The pace of life changed. More and more people gained education and professional skills. More and more people began asking questions for which there were not always clear answers.

Social inequality became a powerful catalyst for conflict. Feelings of injustice grew and created fertile ground for radical ideas.

The First World War became the first war on an industrial scale, involving mass-produced weapons, aviation, and millions of casualties. Humanity gained unprecedented capabilities while simultaneously facing unprecedented levels of violence.

For centuries, Ukrainians remained divided. Ukrainian lands became one of the major theaters of military operations. As empires began to fall apart, Ukrainian leaders understood that their territory could not once again become a battleground for competing foreign interests. In those turbulent times, one thing became clear: without unity there could be no strength to endure. Without unity there could be no independence.

On January 22, 1919, in Kyiv’s Saint Sophia Square, in the presence of thousands of people, the Act of Unification between the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) and the West Ukrainian People's Republic (ZUNR) was proclaimed. Winter. Orchestras. Church bells. Prayer. Amid global turmoil, a united Ukraine emerged.

Yet the challenges continued to grow. Ukraine found itself facing multiple enemies without sufficient international support and without enough time to strengthen its army and institutions. Unity had been proclaimed, but it had not yet become secure.

Ukraine continues to pay a very high price for its independence today. Once again, we are defending our right to statehood—through service, work, and volunteer efforts. Despite cold and darkness, despite differing opinions, we stand together. Guided by the lessons of the past and sustained by an unwavering faith in the future.