June 4 marks the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression and the related Day of Remembrance of Children who died as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, as well as the Day of Economic Courts of Ukraine, World Running Day and International Spoiler Day. Events spanning political changes, geographical discoveries, cultural breakthroughs and tragic catastrophes have occurred on this day in various historical eras.
International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
This day was established by the UN General Assembly in 1982 during a special meeting dedicated to the situation in Palestine. The purpose is to honor the memory of children who have become victims of violence, wars and terrorist attacks. Its essence is to remind the world about the suffering of children in conflict zones, where they often die from explosions, come under fire or suffer from the actions of adults who are driven by the desire for power, resources or ideology. The day aims to draw attention to the need to protect children from the brutality of a war they did not choose.
In 2024, the situation with the safety and well-being of children in war zones has taken on a particularly dramatic scale. According to UNICEF, this year can be considered one of the most tragic for minors who were at the epicenter of armed conflicts. The organization notes that the total number of victims continues to grow, although the full statistics for 2025 have not yet been compiled.
By the end of 2023, more than 47 million children have been forced to flee their homes due to war and violence. The figures for 2024 indicate a strengthening of this trend, particularly due to the worsening of the situation in countries such as Haiti, Lebanon, Myanmar, Palestine and Sudan. Although children make up only a third of the world’s population, their share among refugees reaches 40%, and among internally displaced persons – almost half.
It is particularly alarming that in war-torn countries, more than 34% of the population lives below the poverty line, which is more than three times higher than in countries that have not been affected by armed conflicts. As noted by UNICEF, it is difficult to fully assess the scale of losses among children in 2024 due to the lack of reliable reporting in many hotspots. However, all available data show that last year, violence caused by wars had a record-breaking impact on the lives of the youngest.
Day of commemoration of the children who died as a result of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine
This date was established by the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated June 1, 2021 No. 266/2021 in order to honor the memory of the dead Ukrainian children who became victims of Russian aggression starting in 2014, and especially after the full-scale invasion in 2022.
This day is a painful reminder that war has no age, and that the most vulnerable – children – also become victims of cynical violence, shelling, deportation, destruction. It is designed not only to perpetuate the memory of every child whose life was cut short, but also to call on the world to take active action to stop crimes against the civilian population in Ukraine.
According to the data of the Prosecutor General’s Office, as of June 2025, 631 children died, and another 1,971 children were injured to varying degrees. These numbers are not final, because in the conditions of active hostilities and temporary occupation of some territories, it is impossible to accurately calculate the number of victims. Ukrainian law enforcement officers continue to record every case of death or injury of a child as a war crime.
This day is also an opportunity to draw the attention of the international community to the subject of the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, which has reached the scale of a systemic crime. Thousands of children were illegally deported, their names and citizenships were changed, they were torn from their families or placed under the “guardianship” of Russian families. Ukraine, together with international organizations, seeks their return, but the process is extremely difficult and politically blocked.
The day of honoring the memory of the dead children became a day of mourning, silence and an internal oath to prevent the repetition of such tragedies in the future. On this day, Ukrainian schools, churches, and public organizations hold memorial events, moments of silence, actions with the names of dead children, and light candles. This is not just a symbol, but the voice of every child who will never say their last word.
Among the first documented victims of the war in 2014 were children from Luhansk and Donetsk regions. One of the earliest tragedies was the death of a 5-year-old boy as a result of shelling in the city of Stakhanov (now Kadiivka).
According to UNICEF, more than 1.5 million Ukrainian children were forced to leave their homes because of the war. Many of them lost their parents, education, health, and access to medical care.
In 2023, for the first time, Ukraine held a national campaign to highlight every name of a dead child — from the smallest baby to a teenager who dreamed of becoming a programmer or an artist. The names were read publicly in dozens of cities.
Day of Commercial Courts of Ukraine
This day is dedicated to judges, employees of court apparatuses, scientists and specialists in the field of economic justice, who every day provide justice in matters of economy, entrepreneurship, bankruptcy, public procurement, antimonopoly regulation and corporate disputes.
In the conditions of a market economy, the functioning of an independent system of commercial courts is of critical importance for the protection of the rights of participants in economic legal relations, in particular small and medium-sized businesses, state enterprises, investors and consumers. The role of commercial courts has increased especially in wartime conditions, when many businesses face asset destruction, breach of contract, forced evacuation or bankruptcy.
The holiday is timed to the date of the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Law “On Arbitration Court” on June 4, 1991. It was this law that initiated the formation of a specialized judicial system in Ukraine to resolve disputes between legal entities. Instead of Soviet-style arbitration commissions, a state arbitration service was created, which later evolved into a modern system of commercial courts.
The next important stage was the adoption of the Arbitration Procedure Code of Ukraine on November 6, 1991, which defined the rules for consideration of economic disputes, the procedural rights of the parties and guarantees of legality.
Subsequently, the system of arbitration courts was renamed commercial courts, and in 2001, a new version of the Commercial Procedural Code of Ukraine was adopted, which is still in effect today with numerous changes, including the 2017 reform.
Interesting facts
Commercial courts in Ukraine are courts of specialized jurisdiction — they deal exclusively with disputes between legal entities or sole proprietorships in the field of economic activity.
In 2018, as part of the judicial reform, the Supreme Chamber was created as part of the Commercial Court of Cassation, which became the highest instance in commercial justice.
The first arbitration court in independent Ukraine began its work in Kyiv in 1992, shortly after the declaration of independence.
Commercial courts consider approximately 40% of all court cases in Ukraine, which indicates the great importance of this jurisdiction for economic stability.
The jurisprudence of commercial courts often shapes the approach to dispute resolution in areas such as corporate conflicts, state property, public procurement, bankruptcy, and disputes involving foreign companies.
World Running Day
This is an international holiday designed to unite millions of people around the world around the idea of running as a symbol of health, endurance, will and vitality. In 2025, World Running Day falls on June 4. This day originated as an initiative of the running community in the USA, where in 2009 National Running Day was held for the first time. Later, the initiative gained an international scale and in 2016 it was transformed into Global Running Day – a day on which anyone, regardless of age, experience or physical condition, can take their running step for health, community and inspiration.
The main idea of the holiday is not competition, but participation. Anyone can run – in the stadium, in the park, around the house, around the city or in nature. Marathons, solidarity runs, children’s races, charity events, flash mobs and online races are held on this day. People from all over the world register on the initiative’s official website and make a promise to run that day — even if it’s just one kilometer.
World Running Day also serves as a platform for philanthropy: in many countries, the funds collected during the races are used to support medical initiatives, education, environmental protection or children’s aid. During the war, running for many became not only a form of physical activity, but also a way of psychological rehabilitation.
Interesting facts
In 2024, participants from 184 countries of the world joined the World Running Day. In total, more than 2 million people have pledged to take part in the races.
Ukrainian cities actively participate in the holiday: even during the full-scale war in Kyiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv and Odesa, joint runs were held in support of the Armed Forces or in memory of fallen heroes.
As part of the initiative, separate programs for children are held – “Youth Running Challenge”, which popularize an active lifestyle among young people.
On this day, runners often wear symbolic t-shirts or ribbons with the inscription “I run for…” – and write the name of the person to whom they dedicate their run, or the goal: health, victory, freedom, memory.
The Strava platform sees an average 42% annual increase in user activity on Run Day compared to other days of the week.
International Spoiler Day
The day is not an official or universally recognized holiday, but is widely celebrated in internet culture and fan communities, especially on social media. It is informally celebrated for the first time in May — most commonly on May 20, although the exact date may vary by country or platform.
The holiday arose as an ironic response to the constant controversy about spoilers – the premature disclosure of key plot twists in movies, series, books, games. Its main goal is to draw attention to the problem of uncontrolled distribution of plot information, which can spoil the viewer’s or reader’s impression. At the same time, the day often becomes an occasion for jokes, flash mobs and memes – when people deliberately recall legendary spoilers from the past (for example, the ending of the series “Game of Thrones” or Marvel films), although it is not uncommon to discuss the ethics of handling new plots.
Discussions about spoilers have been around for years — especially in the age of streaming services, where new episodes appear online immediately and fans can watch them on the first day. In response, many authors, bloggers, and fan groups have created unwritten rules, such as not releasing plot details without warning during a certain “spoiler moratorium”—usually 3-7 days after the premiere.
Interesting facts
The most famous historical spoiler is the phrase “Luke, I am your father” from the movie Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It became a meme long before the Internet became popular.
Social networks such as Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook have special spoiler protection features or rules — such as blacking out text or warning tags.
In 2019, after the release of the film Avengers: Endgame the directors officially announced a two-week “spoiler moratorium” – until this moment they called on not to reveal the final scenes publicly.
There is a humorous rule that after 5 years any plot becomes “spoiler free” – that is, revealing it is no longer considered a bad tone. However, fans of some iconic works such as Breaking Bad or Harry Potter, often adhere to the “eternal spoiler taboo”.
Some media use spoilers as a deliberate provocation – in news headlines or trailers. This often causes a wave of indignation in the audience and mass complaints.
Historical events on this day
907 — the long period of rule of the Tang dynasty, which lasted almost three centuries, ended in China. This marked the beginning of an era of political fragmentation and internecine warfare known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
1039 — the coronation of Henry III as King of Germany took place in Mainz. He became one of the most influential monarchs of the Holy Roman Empire, actively interfered in church affairs and pursued a centralizing policy.
1094 — after the death of Sancho I, the throne of Aragon and Navarre passed to Pedro I. His reign was marked by the struggle with the Muslim states of the Iberian Peninsula in the context of the Reconquista.
1286 — the unification of the Kingdom of Jerusalem with Cyprus took place under the rule of King Henry II. Formally, this meant preserving the titles of the Crusades, although Jerusalem itself was already under Muslim control.
1391 — a massive anti-Jewish pogrom broke out in Seville, Spain. More than 4,000 Jews were killed, many forcibly baptized. This day became a symbol of religious intolerance and the beginning of a wave of violence against Jewish communities in the Pyrenees.
1500 — Kyiv received a special status: the city was exempted from paying trade duties in accordance with Magdeburg law. This contributed to the development of trade, crafts and self-government in the city.
1664 — on the territory of North America, the city of New Amsterdam, founded by the Dutch, came under the control of the British and was renamed New York in honor of the Duke of York.
1771 — during an expedition in the northwest Pacific Ocean, the Danish-Norwegian navigator Vitus Bering discovered Alaska. This geographical breakthrough laid the foundations for future Russian claims to this region.
1865 — in the American state of Ohio, the first train robbery recorded in history took place. This set the precedent for numerous raids in the following decades that would later become part of American folklore of the Wild West.
1921 — the legendary perfume Chanel No. 5 was officially presented in France. It became the first perfume created in collaboration between a fashion house and a professional perfumer, and it still remains a symbol of classic elegance.
1946 — as a result of the victory in the elections, Juan Domingo Peron assumed the post of president of Argentina. His rule ushered in the era of Peronism, a unique ideology that combined nationalism, social politics, and authoritarianism.
1954 — in Paris, Prime Ministers of France, Joseph Lanier, and Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Buu Loc, signed an agreement on the full independence of Vietnam. This move paved the way for the end of French colonial rule in Indochina.
1973 — during the air show in Le Bourget (France), the crash of the Soviet Tu-144 supersonic passenger plane occurred. During a demonstration flight, the plane caught fire in mid-air, broke apart and crashed. All crew members and civilians on the ground were killed.
1989 — the Chinese authorities brutally suppressed mass student protests in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The military used tanks, hundreds, and possibly thousands, of people were killed. This event left a deep mark in the world consciousness as a symbol of the struggle for freedom.
1989 — the USSR experienced the largest railway disaster in its history: a powerful explosion of a fuel-air mixture occurred near Ufa during the movement of two passenger trains. 575 people died, more than 600 were injured. The tragedy revealed the negligence and danger of the infrastructure of the Soviet era.
2010 — the first launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral in the USA took place. This marked the historic beginning of a new era of private spaceflight, launched by SpaceX, which later provided the first flights to the ISS and projects to colonize Mars.
Completion of the construction of the White House in Washington
On June 4, 1800, the construction of the White House in Washington was completed, and the first residents – President John Adams and his wife Abigail – moved into it. The White House is the permanent working residence of the President of the United States, located in the heart of Washington on Pennsylvania Avenue. The site for the construction of the future presidential palace was chosen by the first US president, George Washington. It was he who signed the act of Congress, according to which the seat of the American government should be located no further than 10 miles from the Potomac River.
In 1791, a competition was announced for the design of a new residence. The victory was won by the architect of Irish origin, James Hoben. The first stone in the foundation of the future presidential house was laid on October 13, 1792. Eight years later, in 1800, John Adams and his wife became the first residents of the building, which was already popularly called the White House because of its snow-white Virginia sandstone cladding, which stood out prominently against the surrounding red houses.
In 1814, during the English invasion of the United States, the White House was set on fire, but it was later repaired. James Hoben, the author of the initial project, supervised the works. During the reconstruction, western and eastern terraces, a southern semicircular portico and a northern one with a colonnade were added. Already in 1817, President James Monroe entered the renovated residence.
During the 19th century, the building was renovated several times, but without significant architectural changes. Only new technical conveniences were introduced — in particular, electricity and telephone. It was only in 1902 that President Theodore Roosevelt officially established the name “White House” for the presidential residence. During the presidency of Harry Truman in 1948, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out – two underground floors were built under the main building, which are used as the operational headquarters of the US president in matters of foreign policy and defense.
The White House is the only residence of a sitting head of state in the world that is open to the general public. It is not only a symbol of power, but also a kind of museum – every presidential family has left something personal in it. It houses Martha Washington’s sugar bowl, Abigail Adams’ silver coffee pot, and Eleanor Roosevelt’s dressing table.
Jacqueline Kennedy left a special mark on the style and history of the White House. She initiated the filling of the palace with antique furniture of the 18th and 19th centuries, obtained the transfer of more than 150 old paintings from US museums, and ordered handmade French curtains. It was she who initiated the change in the color scheme of the historical rooms: the Red Room became dark cherry, the Green Room became the color of chartreuse liqueur, and the Oval Blue Room was repainted white. Only with the arrival of Hillary Clinton did the Blue Room regain its rich sapphire hue.
The total area of the residence is about 7.2 hectares. The White House has 6 floors (including two basements), 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 147 windows, 412 doors, 3 elevators, and 7 stairwells. The main building is still residential – it is here that the apartments of the presidential family are located, decorated in a historical style.
Administrative premises are concentrated in the west wing of the White House. It is there that the Oval Office is located – a place where fateful decisions were made not only for America, but for the whole world. But not only. On June 2, 1886, it was in the Blue Room of the White House, where Mendelssohn’s music was playing and hydrangeas smelled, that something completely different happened – US President Grover Cleveland got married right within the walls of the residence. Journalists crowded in front of the door, not because of the law or the war, but to be the first to learn the details of the wedding.
Henry Ford tested his first car
On June 4, 1896, Henry Ford tested his first car. For more than two years, Ford independently assembled this car in a workshop located in the inner courtyard of his house. When the car was finally ready, it turned out that it did not pass the gate of the workshop. The engineer had to widen the door opening to get the car outside.
Henry Ford called his first creation “Quadrocycle”. It moved on four bicycle tires, was equipped with a two-cylinder engine with a power of 4 horsepower, had two gears, but no reverse gear. The maximum speed was 32 km/h.
Ford sold this car for $200 and later bought it back for only $65. This first success further inspired him to create his own business, which soon became the legendary Ford Motor Company.
Today, the Quadricycle is housed in the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan as one of the most valuable exhibits in American automotive history.
Presidential law on “thief in law”
On June 4, 2020, the Verkhovna Rada supported the presidential law on “thieves in law” in the second reading by 236 votes.
The Law “On Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine Regarding Liability for Crimes Committed by a Criminal Society” for the first time introduced into the Criminal Code of Ukraine the concept of “thief in law” – a person who, thanks to his authority, personal qualities or other opportunities, exercises criminal influence and coordinates the criminal activities of other persons who also exercise criminal influence.
A year later, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine imposed sanctions on 557 “thieves in law” and 111 foreigners who are “criminal authorities” around the world.
