On February 20, Ukraine honours the Heavenly Hundred heroes. These are the participants of Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity of 2014, who were killed in clashes with the security forces under the direction of Ukraine's pro-Russian then president Viktor Yanukovych. These events also mark the beginning of Russian armed aggression in Ukraine through the attempted annexation of Crimean peninsula and illegal occupation of some parts of Donetsk and Luhansk region in Eastern Ukraine. The peaceful protests were triggered in November 2013 by President Yanukovych’s decision to unilaterally delay the signing of Association Agreement between Ukraine and European Union and, instead, to seek closer economic ties with Russia. Posing a threat to the aspiration of the Ukrainians to join the EU, the former president’s move pushed thousands of citizens inter alia young students to go on the streets to express their disagreement with the decision.

Source: The Star February 20, 2021 01:52 UTC