A draft Resolution has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine proposing the establishment of an official Day of Remembrance for the Defenders of Luhansk Airport. The date is August 31. This is the day when one of the longest and most heroic defensive operations of 2014 came to an end.
146 Days of Resistance
The defense of Luhansk Airport lasted from April 8 until the end of summer 2014 — exactly 146 days. During this time, Ukrainian warriors, often under complete encirclement and without adequate supplies, held a strategically important object. Their resilience became a symbol of organized resistance and showed the world that the war in Donbas was fought not only by volunteer battalions but also by the regular armed forces of the Russian Federation.
Why specifically August 31?
The authors of the initiative consider this date symbolic — it marks the end of the fighting and simultaneously highlights the courage and self-sacrifice of those who stood their ground to the death. The establishment of an official day of remembrance is intended not only to honor the heroes but also to preserve the historical memory of a key event at the beginning of the full-scale war.
New commemorative dates in Ukraine's calendar
The initiative to establish the Day of Remembrance for the Defenders of Luhansk Airport fits into a general trend — the state is gradually introducing new commemorative dates related to military and professional holidays. Thus, in December 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Decree on the establishment of Programmer's Day — it will be celebrated annually on January 7. Earlier, Zelenskyy also signed a Decree on the Day of Radio Electronic Warfare Forces, which is celebrated on September 12.
Significance for society
Establishing such dates is not just a formality. It is a way to preserve the memory of those who gave their lives for the independence of the country and to pass this experience on to future generations. For many Ukrainians, the defense of Luhansk Airport became the first real proof that Russia is waging war against Ukraine — and that its soldiers are ready to pay a high price for it.
