Ukraine commemorates Heroes of Heavenly Hundred
On Friday, February 20, Ukraine observes Remembrance Day of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
According to Ukrinform, the day is marked annually on February 20 under the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated February 11, 2015 "On Commemoration of the Heroism of Participants in the Revolution of Dignity and Honoring the Memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred."
These dates in 2014 marked the peak of confrontation during the Revolution of Dignity between the Ukrainian people and the then-regime. On February 20, 2014, the largest number of people – 48 – were killed in the center of Ukraine’s capital. Along with 54 others who died or were fatally wounded during the winter protests of 2013–2014 and five activists who died in spring 2014 defending democratic values and Ukraine’s territorial integrity, they were named the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
The name Heavenly Hundred comes from the structure of the Maidan Self-Defense units, organized in “hundreds.” It was first used during the farewell ceremonies for the fallen at Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv on February 21–22, 2014.
Posthumously, 105 Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred were awarded the title Heroes of Ukraine, and three foreigners – a Belarusian citizen, Mikhail Zhiznevsky, and two Georgian citizens, Zurab Khurtsia and David Kipiani – were awarded the Order of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
The Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred were people of different nationalities, faiths, education, and ages. The youngest, Nazarii Voitovych, was 17 years old; the oldest, Ivan Nakonechnyi, was 82. Among the 107 Heroes, three were women: Antonina Dvorianets, Olha Bura, and Liudmyla Sheremet.
On February 17, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recognized the Revolution of Dignity as a key moment in Ukrainian statehood and an expression of the national idea of freedom.
As noted by the Institute of National Remembrance of Ukraine, Remembrance Day of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred is a day of mourning, reflecting the deaths of Ukrainians during the Revolution of Dignity and the early stages of Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. At the same time, it honors struggle for a dignified and free life, sacrifice, and courage rather than death. The deaths of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred profoundly affected Ukrainian public consciousness, highlighting the importance of self-determination, dignity, freedom, state sovereignty, democracy, and the European choice.
This year, as part of the program of events, on February 19 in Kyiv, the Gallery of Protest Art opened the exhibition “People. Place. Presence,” dedicated to the fallen Heroes of Maidan.
On February 20 at 10:00, a ceremony to honor the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and participants of the Revolution of Dignity will take place at the Alley of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, near the Ecumenical Church of Archangel Michael and Ukrainian New Martyrs.
At 11:30, the annual silent event Angels of Memory, initiated in 2014, will begin at the Alley. Everyone can participate by making a paper angel and placing it at a commemorative site in their city.
Also on February 20, at 12:00, an exhibition 40 Events of Maidan will open at Independence Square around the Independence Monument. At 17:00, the memorial-artistic event Territory of Dignity will honor the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
At 18:00, a memorial march will take place along the Alley of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
Additionally, an information campaign marking Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Day will feature the graphic image by artist Oleksandr Komiakhov, inspired by the famous image of raising a flag on Iwo Jima. It depicts Maidan protesters with wooden shields, symbolizing peaceful demonstrators during the mass shootings on February 20, and has been consistently used in campaigns for several years.
A detailed program and educational materials for Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred Day are available on the Museum of the Revolution of Dignity website.