December 18 is the Day of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU in Ukraine, International Day of Migrants and International Day of the Arabic Language in the world.
Day of military counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine
The Day of Military Counterintelligence of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is a holiday designed to honor the work of people who are on guard for national security every day, ensuring the protection of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the entire country from internal and external threats. This day is also an opportunity to honor the memory of those who gave their lives in the struggle for the independence and security of Ukraine.
This day reminds the society that the security of the state depends not only on the strength of its army, but also on the carefully thought-out work of the special services. Today, SBU military counterintelligence is one of the key elements of national defense, which continues to develop and improve its methods, often in cooperation with international partners. The SBU Military Counterintelligence Day is a celebration of real professionals who, remaining in the shadows, stand on the front line of the struggle for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The history of this day is connected with the formation of a separate unit within the SBU responsible for military counter-intelligence. Since the independence of Ukraine, the special services have faced numerous challenges related to new geopolitical realities, including protection against espionage, sabotage, terrorism and other threats. Military counterintelligence has become an important element of the security system aimed at strengthening the state’s defense capabilities.
The main tasks of military counter-intelligence officers are to identify and neutralize the activities of foreign special services, prevent the leakage of secret information, protect strategic objects and military operations. Their activities are invisible to most citizens, but extremely important to national security. Thanks to their professional work, numerous espionage networks were exposed and dozens of terrorist attacks were prevented, which could have catastrophic consequences for the country.
Interesting facts
Employees of this unit take an active part in joint operations with international partners, which helps Ukraine adapt best practices and strengthen its defense.
Military counterintelligence played a key role in preventing dozens of terrorist acts and destroying espionage networks on the territory of Ukraine.
Ukrainian military counterintelligence has gained a reputation as one of the most effective units, thanks to which it receives support from the world’s leading states.
International Migrant Day
This day was established by the UN General Assembly in 2000. It aims to draw attention to the problems and challenges faced by migrants and refugees around the world. Migrants who often leave their homes for economic, social, political or environmental reasons need protection, support and understanding. This day is designed to remind about the importance of human rights for everyone, regardless of nationality or location. The UN calls on governments, non-governmental organizations and citizens of the world to work together to ensure decent treatment of migrants, access to education, health care, jobs and other basic rights.
In today’s world, migration has become an integral part of globalization. People are looking for new opportunities, security or a better future for their children, crossing borders and adapting to new living conditions. On this day, organizations and governments hold events aimed at discussing ways to improve conditions for migrants and solve migration problems.
Interesting facts
According to the UN, there are more than 281 million international migrants in the world, which is approximately 3.6% of the total global population.
According to UN data, in 2024, more than 6 million Ukrainians had temporary protection in European countries. Almost 600,000 more Ukrainians received protection outside Europe.
Every eighth migrant in the world is a child. Ensuring their right to education is a key challenge for the international community.
During times of global upheaval, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, migrants are often in a more vulnerable position due to limited access to health services and social support.
Climate change is becoming a new factor forcing millions of people to leave their homes. This trend is expected to increase in the coming decades.
International Arabic Language Day
International Arabic Language Day is a celebration of one of the most influential and widespread languages in the world. This holiday was established by the United Nations in 2010 to recognize the role of the Arabic language in the preservation and development of human culture and civilization.
The Arabic language is not only a means of communication for more than 400 million people, but also the key to a rich cultural, scientific and historical heritage. It is an official language in 25 countries of the world, as well as one of the six official languages of the United Nations. December 18 was chosen to celebrate this day because it was on this day in 1973 that Arabic was recognized as the official language of the United Nations.
The Arabic language influenced the development of many other languages, including European ones, through the scientific and cultural achievements of the medieval Arab world. During the Golden Age of Islam (VIII-XIII centuries), Arabic was the language of science, philosophy, and medicine. Its influence can be seen in many borrowings in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, chemistry and literature. Today, Arabic remains an important element of intercultural dialogue, uniting millions of people in their quest to preserve their heritage and identity.
Interesting facts
The Arabic language has a history of more than one and a half years, and its classical version has remained almost unchanged since the time of early Islam.
The Arabic language uses abjad, a script where the main emphasis is on consonants. It contains 28 letters and is written from right to left.
Many words, such as “algebra”, “algorithm”, “coffee” (from Arabic “qahwa”) came to European languages through Arabic.
Arabic has numerous dialects, which are sometimes so different that they can be mutually unintelligible. At the same time, classical Arabic, or Fusha, unites all Arab countries.
Arabic is the language of Islam’s holy book, which gives it a special meaning for more than a billion Muslims around the world.
In art, the Arabic language plays an important role, especially through calligraphy, which is an important element of Islamic culture.
Historical events on this day
1104 – Nicephorus I was appointed to rule the Kyiv Metropolitanate, which became an important event in the religious life of Kyivan Rus.
1865 – after ratification by three quarters of the US states, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution prohibiting slavery was officially included in the country’s basic law. This became a key stage in the struggle for human rights in the United States.
1890 – the world’s first underground electrified railway (metro) was opened in London. Prior to that, the subway worked with the help of steam trains.
1917 – The Soviet People’s Committee of the RSFSR issued a decree on the recognition of Finland’s independence. This was an important step for the establishment of Finland as a sovereign state.
1917 – the Ukrainian State Academy of Arts was opened in Kyiv. Its first rector was the famous graphic designer Georgy Narbut. The Academy became an important center of Ukrainian culture and art.
1920 – The Soviet People’s Committee of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the resolution “On accounting of musical instruments.” This regulatory act was used to persecute kobzars, which later had tragic consequences for traditional Ukrainian art.
1940 – the Third Reich approved Directive No. 21, known as the “Barbarossa Plan” – the plan for Germany’s attack on the USSR, which determined the course of the Second World War.
1941 – the American Congress introduced censorship of all information entering or leaving the country. The Associated Press under the leadership of Byron Price was responsible for implementing the decision.
1958 – The USA conducted the first ever voice transmission session via satellite, which was an important step in the development of space technologies and telecommunications.
1972 – US President Richard Nixon ordered the bombing of North Vietnam, beginning an 11-day operation during the Vietnam War.
1991 – Armenia officially recognized the independence of Ukraine, which became an important stage in the international recognition of the young state.
1998 – in the USA, for the first time in 130 years, the House of Representatives of the Congress began hearings on the impeachment of President Bill Clinton on charges of lying under oath about his relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
2007 Yulia Tymoshenko became the Prime Minister of Ukraine for the second time. At the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada, it was supported by 226 people’s deputies.
2008 – speculation on the currency market of Ukraine has reached its peak. The exchange rate of the hryvnia fell to 9.50–10.20 per dollar.
Adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution
December 18, 1865 was a turning point in the history of the United States of America. On this day, Congress officially adopted the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, which banned slavery throughout the country. This decision was the final chord in the years-long struggle for freedom and equality that culminated in the Civil War between the North and the South.
The conflict between the industrialized North and the agrarian, patriarchal South had been brewing for decades. The main bone of contention was the question of slavery, which in the South was the basis of the economy and political power of the local slave-owning planters. In the North, the ideas of abolition of slavery became more and more popular.
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, the leader of the anti-slavery Republican Party, was elected President of the United States. This caused outrage in the South, and at the end of the year, South Carolina was the first to announce its withdrawal from the United States. Her example was followed by ten more states that formed the Confederacy. Confederate President Jefferson Davis declared that slavery in the South would remain forever. The federal government, led by Lincoln, declared the South’s actions illegal and decided to reunify the country by force. Thus, in 1861, the Civil War began.
During the war, in June 1862, the US Congress passed a law that abolished slavery in federal territories. In January 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the goal of the war to be the final abolition of slavery.
In February 1865, President Lincoln proposed the introduction of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibited slavery at the legislative level. The amendment stated:
“Neither in the United States, nor in any other place subject to their dominion, shall there exist either slavery or indentured labor, except in cases of punishment for crime.”
The Civil War ended in May 1865, when Northern troops finally defeated the Confederacy and arrested its leaders. However, Abraham Lincoln was not destined to see the full implementation of the Thirteenth Amendment: on April 14, 1865, he was mortally wounded at Ford’s Theater in Washington. The attack was carried out by actor John Wilkes Booth, and the motives of this crime remain a mystery in American history.
Despite the tragic death of Lincoln, the struggle for freedom was crowned with success: on December 18, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was officially declared a part of the US Constitution. Slavery was abolished, and it became one of the greatest victories in the struggle for human rights. This event not only changed American history, but also became a symbol of how perseverance and principle can overcome the deepest contradictions.
Nationalization of PJSC “Privatbank”
On December 18, 2016, PrivatBank became 100% state-owned, which became one of the largest banking reforms in the history of the country.
According to experts’ estimates, the state spent about 198 billion hryvnias to save this private bank. In other words, each of the 40 million Ukrainians “paid” from their own pockets for the nationalization of PrivatBank. On the night before the nationalization, according to the former head of the National Bank of Ukraine Valeriya Gontareva, the former owners of the bank withdrew another 16 billion hryvnias, which only increased the financial losses.
In August 2021, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the updated development strategy of the state-owned PrivatBank until 2024. The document considers three possible options for privatization of the bank, which may change its status in the future.
Currently, it is believed that the former owners of the bank still owe the institution (and therefore the state) about 240 billion hryvnias. Independent auditors confirmed the debt in the amount of 212 billion hryvnias together with interest. These amounts remain one of the key issues in bank nationalization cases.
