June 21 is celebrated in Ukraine as the Day of the Regulated Price Control Service employee, and in the world – World Music Day, World Humanism Day, World Hydrography Day and World Motorcyclist Day. On this day, in different years, events took place that became part of the military, scientific, cultural and religious history of mankind.
Day of the regulated price control service employee
It was on this day in 2012 that the Law of Ukraine “On Prices and Pricing” was adopted, which became the basic regulatory act in the field of state regulation of the cost of goods and services. This day is not a day off, but it has a symbolic meaning for the employees of the structures that monitor, analyze and control economically justified formation of prices in socially sensitive areas: energy, utilities, medicines, transportation, products.
Institutions related to pricing work under the coordination of central and regional executive bodies, carry out inspections, calculate marginal allowances, monitor compliance with the procedure for price formation in the public sector and provide conclusions on the reasonableness of tariffs.
Interesting facts
In the days of Kyivan Rus, prices for bread and salt were sometimes fixed in special agreements with local communities – so-called “regular letters” that regulated trade at fairs.
In the 1990s, temporary government regulations were in force in Ukraine, which established marginal trade allowances even for sugar and matches. This was due to hyperinflation and efforts to contain social tension.
In 2014, the concept of maximum drug prices appeared for the first time within the framework of the “Affordable Medicines” program. This gave impetus to the creation of a mechanism of reference pricing — when the state focuses on the average price in neighboring countries.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cabinet of Ministers quickly set maximum prices for medical masks, antiseptics, and later – for tests and certain drugs.
The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine does not set prices, but plays a key role in monitoring the abuse of a monopoly position in pricing, in particular in the energy sector.
Some tariffs, such as for water supply, heat and electricity, are formed with the participation of the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NKREKP), an independent regulator accountable to the Verkhovna Rada.
In 2022-2024, the government introduced temporary state price regulation of fuel, bread, cereals, milk and pasta due to war, inflation and logistical constraints. This was done in the form of limiting the trade margin.
There is an international practice of ceiling pricing — marginal pricing of essential goods, which is used in the EU, Canada, and South Africa — especially in the fields of medicine, energy, and social housing. Ukraine uses similar approaches in limited cases.
World Music Day
This unofficial international holiday was started in France in 1982. The initiator was the Minister of Culture Jacques Lang, who proposed the idea of free, public music making as a way to popularize musical art among the general population. At first, the holiday was called Fête de la Musique, that is, the Festival of Music.
The concept included free concerts in the streets, parks, and squares. It was supported by professional musicians, amateurs, local authorities, and later by other countries. Currently, Music Day is held in more than 120 countries. Its goal is to make music accessible to everyone, regardless of wealth, age or social status.
Interesting facts
Music can change the heart rhythm. If you listen to music with a tempo of about 60 beats per minute, the heart automatically adjusts to this rhythm. This is used in meditation and anxiety therapy.
Mozart had Tourette syndrome. Some biographers believe that the composer had uncontrollable exclamations and obscenely humorous correspondence consistent with the symptoms of the syndrome – and this may have affected his expressive style.
The longest piece of music lasts 639 years. This is John Cage’s As Slow As Possible, which has been performed continuously in a German church since 2001 and will end in 2640.
People with absolute hearing often do not tolerate changes in pitch. They feel them almost physically, like pain or discomfort – so modern music with tonal experiments can disgust them.
Guitars were once made from turtle shells. In the 16th–18th centuries, parts of instruments, especially resonators, were made from natural shells because of the acoustic properties of the material.
Bass affects dominance. In a 2014 study, participants who listened to music with a distinct low frequency range were more likely to behave confidently and take the lead in group games.
A Ukrainian composition sounded in space. During the Soyuz TMA-19M mission in 2015, one of the cosmonauts listened to the song “Plyve Kacha” in headphones – it was played in Earth’s orbit.
The loudest instrument is the organ. In particular, the organ at the Bord Gáis Energy Theater in Dublin is capable of exceeding 130 decibels – like an aircraft engine taking off.
Dogs respond to classical music. In shelters, animals that listen to Bach or Chopin are significantly calmer than those that listen to pop or silence. This has been proven experimentally.
In Baroque times, music was considered medicine. Eighteenth-century doctors prescribed patients to listen to the works of Handel or Vivaldi as a way to stabilize “mental equilibrium.”
World Humanism Day
The initiator of this day was the International Humanistic and Ethical Union (IHEU), which made a corresponding decision in 1986 at a conference in Oslo. The date was not chosen by chance – June 21 is the day of the summer solstice, which symbolizes light, rationality and reason. The holiday is designed to remind people about the philosophy of humanism, which puts the person, their dignity, critical thinking, freedom of conscience, rights and responsibilities without references to the supernatural in the center of attention.
According to the views of modern humanists, society should develop through education, science, ethics, respect for human rights, and secular values, not through religious dogmas or authoritarian ideologies.
Interesting facts
Modern secular humanism considers morality to be a natural product of human experience, not a gift from above. This means that ethical principles are the result of a rational analysis of consequences, not divine commandments.
In 1952, when IHEU was founded, the first president was Julian Huxley, a British biologist, brother of writer Aldous Huxley. He believed that evolution is not only biological, but also cultural, and humanism should become a new stage of human development.
In the 1990s, in Norway and Iceland, humanist organizations began to hold alternative rites – secular baptisms, marriages, funerals. In Iceland, the share of such marriages exceeds 40%.
In the Netherlands and Belgium, humanism is officially recognized as a worldview on a par with religions. Humanistic consultants (similar to chaplains) work in state structures, who provide support in the army, prisons and hospitals.
In the US, there is the Humanist Army, an informal community of military personnel who support humanistic values and demand equal representation alongside religious chaplains.
In 2005, UNESCO included humanism in the list of key ideas of modern global education. In educational policies, humanism is equated with respect for human rights, inclusion, and environmental responsibility.
In many countries, there are humanistic schools where education is built on dialogue, critical thinking and rejection of rigid hierarchy. For example, in Germany and Sweden they are financed from the state budget.
World Hydrography Day
This date was set by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) in honor of its own anniversary — it was founded in June 1921 as the International Hydrographic Bureau in Monaco. Since 1970, the organization has had a modern name. The day itself began to be celebrated in 2006, after the corresponding decision of the UN.
The purpose of the event is to increase public awareness of the role of hydrography in maritime safety, environmental protection, marine resource management, response to emergency situations on the water, and support for the sustainable development of coastal zones.
Interesting facts
The word “hydrography” appeared in the ancient world. The Greek Pytheus from Massalia is often considered the first hydrographer, who in the IV century. to n. there are. carried out a navigational survey of Northern Europe.
The most accurate sea map until the 19th century was created on the basis of the expeditions of Captain James Cook. Its accuracy is impressive even by modern standards.
The International Hydrographic Organization coordinates more than 90 countries and has its headquarters in Monaco. Its patron is the Prince of Monaco, and the principality itself became its first sponsor in the 20th century.
Hydrography is involved in the laying of transoceanic communication cables – without its data, it is impossible to safely install underwater telecommunications systems.
The deepest point of the ocean – the Mariana Trench – was officially confirmed precisely thanks to hydrographic research in 1951 by the British ship “Challenger II”.
Modern hydrographers use not only echo sounders, but also LIDAR laser systems, satellites, autonomous drones and underwater robots capable of creating 3D models of the seabed.
Hydrographic information is also used for flood and tsunami forecasting, including warning systems for coastal cities and ports.
Many countries have military hydrographic services responsible for maritime navigation, mine safety and naval support during operations.
World Motorcyclist Day
The initiative to celebrate this day originated in 1992 in the United States under the name Ride To Work Day — as an action to popularize motorcycles as an alternative form of transportation. Later, the date shifted to June 21 to have a symbolic connection with the brightest day.
This day does not have a single format of celebration – bikers all over the world organize runs, rallies, road safety actions, charity initiatives or simply ride their favorite routes. Exhibitions, exchanges of experience and festivals of motorcycle culture are also often held.
The main idea of this day is to show that a motorcycle is not only a hobby, but also an efficient, more ecological and affordable means of transportation, and motorcyclists are not “extremists”, but responsible road users.
Interesting facts
The world’s first motorcycle was designed in 1885 by Germans Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. It had a wooden frame, one cylinder and a gasoline engine.
The longest motorcycle journey in history was made by Argentine Emilio Scotto: from 1985 to 1995, he traveled over 280 countries, covering almost 735,000 km on a single Honda Gold Wing motorcycle.
In Japan, there is a school discipline for slow driving on a motorcycle. Students have to cover the distance as slowly as possible without losing balance – they learn control and stability.
The most expensive serial motorcycle is the Neiman Marcus Limited Edition Fighter. Its price is more than 11 million dollars. It has an aircraft design and seamless aluminum body.
In the US, bikers have their own blood banks. There is the Bikers for Blood initiative – bikers voluntarily donate blood in case of a road accident or to help their brothers.
The highest mountain motorcycle road in the Himalayas is the Khardung La pass (about 5,400 m). It is a popular pilgrimage site for motorcyclists from all over the world.
In Germany, there is a motorcycle church, an officially consecrated building where weddings, funerals and services are held exclusively for motorcyclists.
There is a biker club for priests. Holy Riders operates in Scandinavia, their members ride motorcycles, preaching morality and mutual respect on the roads.
Historical events on this day
1621 — a public execution of 27 participants in the anti-monarchist uprising against the Habsburg authorities took place on Old Town Square in Prague. This was Emperor Ferdinand II’s brutal response to the defeat of the Czech Protestants in the Battle of Bila Hora — and the beginning of the harsh re-Catholicization of the Czech Republic.
1633 — Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was imprisoned in the Inquisition Palace after a trial where he was forced to renounce his support of Copernicus’ heliocentric theory. Although he officially escaped torture, the Inquisition’s verdict cemented a symbolic rift between science and the dogmatic church of the Baroque era.
1788 — a new Russo-Swedish war began, caused by disputes over influence on the Baltic Sea. Sweden sought to regain the lost territories, but the campaign ended without significant territorial changes.
1788 — New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, thus ensuring its final adoption in accordance with the procedure. From that moment, the federation gained legitimacy as a full-fledged state.
1804 — the English chemist Smithson Tennant gave the Royal Society a report on the discovery of two new chemical elements — iridium and osmium. He isolated them from platinum residues, which was a significant step in the development of analytical chemistry and understanding of the platinum group of metals.
1851 — the famous chess game between Adolf Andersen and Lionel Kizeritsky, later called “Immortal”, was played in London. Andersen sacrificed two rooks, a bishop and a queen, completing the combination with a spectacular checkmate – the game became a legend of chess aesthetics.
1893 — a Ferris wheel designed by engineer George Ferris was presented for the first time at the World’s Fair in Chicago. It became America’s engineering answer to the Eiffel Tower and a new kind of entertainment in public space.
1898 — the island of Guam was occupied by the United States during the Spanish-American War and became their overseas territory. This cemented the US strategic presence in the Pacific region.
1913 — American Georgia Broadwick became the first woman to skydive from an airplane, marking a breakthrough in women’s participation in aviation and parachuting.
1915 — Ukrainian artist Kazimir Malevich completed work on “Black Square”. This work became a manifesto of Suprematism and a symbol of a radical break with traditional art in the 20th century.
1963 — Cardinal Giovanni Montini was elected Pope and took the name Paul VI. His pontificate became an important stage in the renewal of the church – it was he who completed the Second Vatican Council and began a new era of dialogue with the modern world.
1971 — on the territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian archaeologist Borys Mozolevskyi, during the excavations of the Tovsta Mohyla mound, found a Scythian pectoral — a gold ornament of the IV century BC. there are. It became a sensational find and one of the most famous archaeological relics of Ukraine.
1975 – the premiere of Steven Spielberg’s film “Jaws” took place in the USA. The picture started the era of blockbusters, and also caused real sharkophobia – the fear of sea predators.
2004 — the SpaceShipOne spacecraft made the first ever flight of a private manned ship beyond the atmosphere. This breakthrough marked the beginning of a new era of private cosmonautics.
“Uman Massacre”
On June 21, 1768, an event took place that went down in history under the name “Uman Massacre.” This is one of the bloodiest episodes of the Koliiv region — the Haydamaki uprising, which broke out in Right-Bank Ukraine against the Polish nobility, the Uniate clergy, and the Jews.
In those days, the insurgents—mostly armed peasant units known as the Haydamaks—approached the city of Uman, which was defended by Polish confederates, Jews, and Greek-Catholic Ruthenians. The city was guarded by a detachment of Cossacks in the service of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, commanded by centurion Ivan Gonta. However, when the rebel units began to storm the city, Gonta went over to their side.
The defenders of the city shot back from the fortress walls, using cannons and rifles. But the assault turned out to be rapid – the Haydamaks entered the city under the cover of smoke that covered the fortress and began a mass massacre almost without resistance. It is believed that most of the Jewish, Polish and Greek-Catholic population in Uman was exterminated at that time. In addition, more than 2,000 Orthodox Ukrainians were killed, suspected of “treason” — sympathizing with or harboring “enemies.”
The uprising itself, which received the name Koliivshchyna, was caused by social, religious and national oppression. Its name comes from the word “kile” – the main weapon of the peasant squads. The Haydamaks hoped for the support of the Russian Empire, believing that the Orthodox state would support the uprising against the Catholic nobility. However, Empress Catherine II, who had just installed her loyalist Stanisław August Poniatowski on the Polish throne, had no intention of supporting the anti-Polish rebellion. On the contrary, she ordered General Pyotr Krechetnikov to suppress the uprising. Russian troops defeated the main forces of the Haydamaks, and their leaders, including Maksym Zalizniak and Ivan Ghonta, were captured.
The Uman massacre left a bloody mark in the memory of several peoples — Ukrainians, Poles, and Jews. For some it was an attempt to retaliate for oppression, for others it was a tragedy of mass extermination. The events of June 21, 1768 still cause conflicting assessments and require a balanced analysis beyond ideological clichés.
The last day of peace in the USSR before the invasion of Nazi Germany
June 21, 1941 was the last day of peace in the USSR before the invasion of Nazi Germany, but outside the Soviet space the atmosphere was already oppressive. On this day, almost all major international news agencies, including the Associated Press, Reuter and Havas, reported alarming news: citing diplomatic sources in Stockholm and Lisbon, reports emerged that war between Germany and the Soviet Union was imminent. The expected deadline is the next few days. Newspapers wrote about the concentration of German troops along the Soviet border, unusual intelligence activity, and high tension in business and political circles in Europe.
Despite these signals, a strange calm prevailed in the USSR. The radio played waltzes, symphonic music concerts, operas, pop songs were broadcast – no news, warnings or appeals. The Soviet authorities continued to adhere to the line of “friendship with Germany.” Neither alarm nor mobilization was announced in Moscow. People were preparing for the day off: Saturday, which preceded the holiday – Youth Day.
This contrast—between loud, panicked telegrams in the West and total silence in the USSR—had dramatic consequences. Information about the alleged aggression was ignored at all levels — from the General Staff to the heads of regions. Despite numerous warnings from British, Polish, American and even his own intelligence, Stalin considered it misinformation and a provocation designed to prematurely draw the USSR into the war.
Even when, on the night of June 21, the NKVD and the General Staff received extremely detailed reports on the movement of German units, they did not lead to active actions. Only a few hours remained before the start of Operation Barbarossa, the largest invasion in human history that would change the course of World War II.
June 21, 1941 is the day the world knew war was coming, and the country being attacked pretended everything was fine. And that is why this day has become a symbol of strategic blindness, political dogmatism and human helplessness in the face of catastrophe.
Petro Poroshenko presented a peace plan for settling the situation in the eastern regions
On June 21, 2014, during his first working trip to Donbas, the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko presented a peace plan for settling the situation in the eastern regions. The document, posted on the official website of the head of state on the same day, was called “15 steps to peace” and was called to stop hostilities and regain control over the occupied territories peacefully.
The plan envisaged a complex of security, political, humanitarian and socio-economic measures. Its key condition was a voluntary ceasefire and the readiness of all parties to engage in dialogue without armed pressure.
The main provisions of the peace plan “15 steps to peace”
- Guarantee the safety of all participants in the negotiations — both from the Ukrainian side and those who agree to lay down their arms.
- Grant amnesty to all those who voluntarily leave the ranks of illegal armed groups and have not committed serious crimes.
- Ensure the release of all hostages.
- Create a 10-kilometer buffer zone on the state border between Ukraine and Russia and ensure the withdrawal of all illegal armed formations.
- Guarantee safe exit from the territory of Ukraine for foreign fighters, in particular citizens of Russia, who arrived as mercenaries.
- Complete disarmament of illegal formations.
- Create special patrol units within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for joint control of territories that have just been liberated from militants.
- Release all illegally seized administrative buildings in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
- Restore the powers of legitimate local authorities.
- Restart Ukrainian TV and radio broadcasting in the territory controlled by the militants.
- Carry out decentralization of power: create elected executive committees, guarantee the protection of the Russian language, initiate constitutional changes.
- Appoint temporary heads of Donbas regions only after their candidacies have been agreed with local representatives. In case of disputes, the final decision rests with the President.
- Hold early local and parliamentary elections to renew legitimate political power.
- Implement a program to create new jobs in the region.
- Ensure restoration of destroyed industrial facilities, infrastructure, and social institutions.
This plan became the basis of Ukraine’s first attempt to return peace to Donbas not by military means, but through phased settlement and dialogue. However, the implementation of its provisions was disrupted due to the continued armed resistance of the militants and the intervention of Russia.
