On February 25, the Day of the Aviation Engineering Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Day of Ukrainian Women are celebrated in Ukraine, and in the world – the World Day of Animal Sterilization and the Birthday of the Revolver.
On this day, important events took place, covering various aspects of history – politics, science, culture and social changes that had an impact both on individual countries and on the whole world.
Day of the Aviation Engineering Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
This is a professional celebration of those who ensure the reliability and combat capability of military aviation. Engineers and technicians of this service are responsible for maintenance, diagnostics, repair and preparation of aircraft and helicopters for combat missions.
The date of the celebration was chosen because it was on February 25, 1992 that the Aviation Engineering Service was created as a separate unit within the Air Force by order of the Minister of Defense of Ukraine. Since then, this service has played a key role in ensuring the readiness of Ukrainian aviation for combat sorties, training missions and other tasks.
The work of specialists of the aviation engineering service requires high accuracy, responsibility and deep knowledge. They monitor the serviceability of aviation equipment, modernize it and eliminate malfunctions, working in any weather conditions and time of day. Thanks to their work, the Ukrainian military aviation remains combat-ready, performing the task of protecting the airspace and supporting military operations.
Interesting facts
Ukrainian engineers are constantly modernizing aviation equipment, adapting it to modern conditions of combat operations.
Maintenance of a modern fighter requires several dozen specialists of various profiles, each of whom performs a highly specialized task.
Aviation engineers work not only on the ground, but also accompany aviation equipment in military units on the front lines.
The service actively implements the latest digital technologies, including computer diagnostics of aviation systems.
Ukrainian military aviators have proven their skills during combat missions in difficult conditions, which would not be possible without the reliable work of the aviation engineering service.
Ukrainian Women’s Day
This holiday is designed to honor the contribution of women to the development of society, culture, science and the struggle for independence. The date of the celebration was chosen in honor of the birthday of Lesya Ukrainka – an outstanding writer, translator, public figure, who became a symbol of the strength, wisdom and indomitability of Ukrainian women.
The launch of this holiday is an initiative that arose in the wake of the desire of Ukrainians to get rid of Soviet traditions, in particular, the celebration of March 8 as International Women’s Day. After the full-scale invasion began, many citizens expressed a desire to renounce the Soviet legacy by proposing an alternative date to commemorate the women.
In 2023, a draft law proposing to fix this date at the state level was registered, but it is currently still under consideration. Despite this, Ukrainian Women’s Day has already become an important event for many Ukrainians who honor outstanding women of the past and present, their role in the protection of the country, the development of culture, science and public life.
Interesting facts
Lesya Ukrainka not only symbolizes indomitable spirit, but was also one of the first Ukrainian women who advocated equal rights for women and men.
Despite the fact that the holiday does not yet have an official status, it is quickly gaining popularity, especially among active youth and educators.
Ukrainian women have made a huge contribution to the liberation movements, the army, medicine, culture and public life of the country, and the current war has only strengthened their role in society.
During Ukrainian Women’s Day, outstanding Ukrainian women such as Maria Zankovetska, Olena Pchilka, Kateryna Bilokur, Solomiya Krushelnytska and modern women who continue to fight for the future of the country are often remembered.
Many initiatives related to this holiday are aimed not only at honoring, but also at supporting women who are currently serving in the army, doing volunteer work or rebuilding Ukraine.
World Animal Sterilization Day
World Animal Sterilization Day is celebrated every year on the last Tuesday of February. This is an international initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sterilization as a humane way to control the number of homeless animals and improve their welfare.
Sterilization is an effective method of preventing uncontrolled reproduction of animals, which reduces the number of stray cats and dogs, and also reduces the risks of diseases and unwanted behavior. Veterinary specialists and animal advocates emphasize that sterilization contributes to a longer and healthier life of pets.
This day is an opportunity for public organizations, veterinary clinics and volunteers to conduct information campaigns, free or discounted sterilization programs and educational activities. Thanks to such initiatives, pet owners gain more knowledge about the responsible treatment of their pets, and society as a whole becomes more humane towards animals.
Interesting facts
Sterilized animals live longer on average, as they are less prone to certain diseases, including cancer of the reproductive system.
One unsterilized cat or dog offspring can lead to thousands of new homeless animals in a few years.
In many countries, the sterilization of stray animals is part of state animal protection programs, which helps to control their population in a humane way.
Spaying can reduce aggression in animals and also prevent unwanted behaviors associated with the mating season.
World Sterilization Day is supported by many well-known animal protection organizations, which launch special initiatives and actions every year to help as many animals as possible.
Revolver’s birthday
Every year on February 25, the world celebrates the birthday of the revolver, a weapon that has become a cult. It was on this day in 1836 that American inventor Samuel Colt received a patent for his 45-caliber six-shot silicon revolver. This invention significantly changed the world of firearms, making them more efficient, convenient to use and affordable for mass production.
Colt’s revolver was distinguished by an innovative mechanism of a rotating drum, which allowed several shots to be fired quickly without the need to reload after each one. This gave its owners a significant advantage in battle. Thanks to Colt, revolvers quickly gained popularity among the military, law enforcement officers, and immigrants who mastered new territories.
Over time, revolvers underwent numerous improvements, and the Colt company became one of the most famous manufacturers of weapons in the world. Despite the development of modern handguns, classic revolvers remain a symbol of the Wild West and a recognizable element of many cultural images, including in films and literature.
Interesting facts
The first Colt revolvers were made by hand, but later Colt introduced industrial production, which made them more affordable.
Despite the widespread myth, Samuel Colt did not invent the very idea of a revolver – similar mechanisms existed before, but he made them practical and reliable.
One of the first armies to officially adopt Colt revolvers was the US Army, which used them during wars with Native Americans.
In the 20th century, revolvers began to give way to self-loading pistols, but they are still in demand among hunters, collectors and law enforcement officers.
Colt himself was not only an inventor, but also a talented businessman – he actively used advertising and personal PR to make his products known around the world.
Historical events on this day
1570 – Pope Pius V issued the bull “Regnans in Excelsis”, in which he excommunicated the English Queen Elizabeth I and declared her deprived of legitimate authority. This became one of the key moments in the confrontation between the Catholic Church and Protestant England.
1573 – In Lviv, Ivan Fedorovych, a famous printer and the first printer of the East Slavic peoples, founded a printing house. It was here that “Apostol” and “Bukvar” were published, which became important for the development of Ukrainian writing and education.
1791 – The US Congress approved the First Bank of the USA, which received monopoly nationwide status. It was an important step in the formation of a centralized financial system, although it lasted only until 1811 due to disputes over the powers of the federal government.
1831 – The battle of Grohov took place, which became the largest during the November Uprising (1830-1831) of the Poles against the Russian Empire. The Polish rebels put up a fierce resistance, but were eventually forced to retreat, a turning point in the struggle for independence.
1873 – The Russian occupying power created the South-Western branch of the Russian Geographical Society in Kyiv, which aimed to study Ukrainian lands, but at the same time contributed to the Russification and colonial policy of the empire.
1918 – The Small Council of the Ukrainian People’s Republic passed laws on the transition to the Gregorian calendar and Central European Time, bringing Ukraine closer to European standards. The decision was part of a broader reform aimed at breaking away from Russia’s imperial heritage.
1928 – The Charles Jenkins Laboratory in Washington received the first television license, one of the first official steps toward the development of television as a mass medium.
1947 – The Allied Control Council decided to officially eliminate Prussia as a state entity due to its association with German militarism.
1956 – At the 20th Congress of the CPSU, Nikita Khrushchev made a speech in which he for the first time officially condemned the cult of the personality of Joseph Stalin. This marked the beginning of the so-called de-Stalinization, although the repressive Soviet regime continued to exist.
1956 – In the USA, a hen laid the world’s largest egg weighing 454 g, which became a unique case in poultry farming.
1957 – The State Publishing House of Children’s Literature of the Ukrainian SSR was founded in Ukraine, which later received the name “Rainbow”. This publishing house became the main source of children’s books in the Ukrainian language.
1982 – The European Court in Campbell and Cosans v. Great Britain ruled that parents have the right to prohibit corporal punishment of children in schools. This decision influenced the change of educational policy in many European countries.
1986 Corazon Aquino became the first female president of the Philippines and Asia, ending the long-term dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Her coming to power marked the beginning of democratic reforms in the country.
1994 – In Hebron, Palestine, there was a terrorist attack in the Cave of the Patriarchs, as a result of which an Orthodox Jew shot dead 29 Muslims. After that, access to the cave was divided between Jews and Muslims.
1999 – In Argentina, a woman gave birth to a child during a car accident. The girl became the youngest person who got into a road accident immediately after birth.
2010 – Viktor Yanukovych, elected as a result of massive falsifications, was inaugurated in Kyiv. In 2014, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stripped him of the title of president after he fled to Russia amid the Revolution of Dignity.
