2012 Anniversaries:

• 70th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)
• 120th anniversary of the birth of Patriarch Yosyf I (Slipyj), head of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church
• 105th anniversary of the birth and 75th anniversary of the death of Mykola Pavlushkov, founder of UYA
• 170th anniversary of the birth and the 100th anniversary of the death of Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko
• 100th anniversary of the birth of Yaroslav Stetsko, leader of OUN-B
• 290th anniversary of the birth of the Ukrainian philosopher Hryhoriy Skovoroda
• 825th anniversary of the first mention of "Ukraine" as the nation state of the lands of Kyiv and Halych.

The World Executive of the UYA also recommends the observance of the following anniversaries:

History of Ukraine

• 325th anniversary of the election of Ivan Mazepa as Hetman of Ukraine
• 105th anniversary of the birth of the UPA commander Roman Shukhevych
• 95th anniversary of the creation of the Ukrainian Central Rada in Kyiv and the proclamation of the 1st-3rd Universals
• 80th Anniversary of the heroic death of the members of the UVO-OUN, Vasyl Bilas and Dmytro Danylyshyn
• 70th Anniversary of the heroic death of Ivan Klimov-Legend, national leader of OUN(1939-1941)
• 65th anniversary of operation "Aktsiya Wisla"



Culture of Ukraine

• 175th anniversary of the release of the first Western Ukrainian almanac "Rusalka Dnistrova"
• 140th anniversary of the founding of the first educational society "Historical Society of Nestor the Chronicler"
• 70th anniversary of the death of Ukrainian poet and literary critic Olena Teliha
• 70th anniversary of the death of Ukrainian writer Olha Kobylianska
• 20th anniversary of the death of Ivan Svitlychnyj, linguist, poet, activist of the Ukrainian resistance movement.

UYA Slogan for 2012:

(Слова повстанської пісні «Збудись, Україно!»)

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Dear Friends,

Millions of Ukraine’s sons and daughters who fought for an independent Ukraine have put their lives on the sacrificial altar of independence. What gave them the strength to look into the eyes of death and not stand down and fight?

The belief in the veracity of their cause – to defend their people, to defend their right to a free and independent life, and above all, the belief in God, because He is the absolute truth, goodness, and love.

God’s truth enlightened and led them, and from this, their faith and love for Ukraine grew stronger.

Today, by the grace of the Almighty God and at the cost millions of lives, we have the right to an independent Ukrainian state, the right to democracy, and freedom.

The time has come for us to battle with the challenges of today, which threaten the independence and integrity of Ukraine, its democratic way of development, and the preservation and dissemination of historical truth about the liberation movement of our people. We shall battle using our knowledge, skills, an active position in the community and society, bearing in mind that God, the truth, and the heroic legacy of the millions of fallen sons and daughters of Ukraine are on our side.

- Pod. Nelia Lavrinenko
Head Counselor – World Executive