September 14 is celebrated in Ukraine as the Day of Tank Troops, the Day of Ukrainian Cinema, the Day of Physical Culture and Sports, and in the world – the World Day of First Aid.
Day of tank troops
On the second Sunday of September in Ukraine, tankers and tank builders celebrate the Day of Tank Troops. This decision was confirmed by the decree of the President of Ukraine, signed on September 9, 2023. The choice of this date has a symbolic meaning, because the Ukrainian tank troops play a key role in the defense of the state and are actively used in repelling Russian aggression.
Ukrainian tank forces have a rich history that dates back to World War II. Since then, Ukraine has become famous for its tank production – the Malyshev Kharkiv Plant, founded in the 1930s, is one of the leading enterprises in the production of tanks, in particular the legendary T-64, which is still in service with the Ukrainian army today.
However, in modern conditions, Ukrainian tank troops have undergone significant modernization. One of the main combat tanks in service is the T-84 “Oplot”, which has become a symbol of the power and reliability of Ukrainian military equipment. During the war with Russia, Ukrainian tankers repeatedly demonstrated their skills, even when they were numerically inferior to the enemy.
Interesting facts
The T-64 is the world’s first tank with combined armor: the tank created in Kharkiv became a breakthrough in world tank construction and is the basis of tank units of the Armed Forces.
Tank battalions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been participating in all major operations in eastern Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian aggression in 2014.
Training of Ukrainian tankers takes place in the most modern combat training centers, where advanced battle simulation technologies are used.
During the Russian-Ukrainian war, Ukrainian tankers became real heroes, about whom books are written and documentaries are filmed. For example, the battles for Severodonetsk and Bakhmut showed a high level of professionalism of tank crews.
Day of Ukrainian cinema
The Day of Ukrainian Cinema is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of September, and in 2024 this holiday falls on September 14. This holiday became an opportunity to honor the achievements of Ukrainian cinematographers who contributed to the development of domestic and world cinema. This holiday was first established in 1996 by the decree of the President of Ukraine, and since then it has become a symbol of national pride and inspiration for many Ukrainian directors, actors and screenwriters.
Ukrainian cinematography has a long and rich history dating back to the end of the 19th century. However, it is precisely in recent years that it is experiencing a real revival, thanks to which Ukrainian-made films receive recognition at international film festivals and win the hearts of viewers.
Interesting facts
The Ukrainian studio “Odesa Film Studio” is one of the oldest in Europe, founded in 1919. Many classic films were shot on it, including the legendary “Battleship Potemkin” by Sergei Eisenstein.
In 2020, the film “Atlantis” by Valentin Vasyanovych won a prize at the Venice Film Festival, which became an important breakthrough for Ukrainian cinema on the world stage.
Ukrainian film director Oleksandr Dovzhenko is one of the pioneers of world cinema, and his film “Earth” (1930) is considered one of the best films in the history of world cinema.
Recently, Ukrainian documentaries have also been gaining recognition abroad, including films about the war in eastern Ukraine, such as Mantas Kvedaravičius’ Mariupoli, which tells the story of life under shelling.
The national film award “Golden Dzyga” was created in 2017 and became the highest award in Ukrainian cinema, an analogue of “Oscar” for domestic filmmakers.
Day of physical culture and sports
The Day of Physical Culture and Sports of Ukraine is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of September, and in 2024 this holiday falls on September 14. This holiday is important for the whole country, because it honors not only professional athletes, but also those who lead a healthy lifestyle and actively engage in physical culture. The holiday was introduced by the decree of the President of Ukraine in 1994 to emphasize the importance of sports and physical development in the lives of Ukrainians.
Physical culture and sports play an important role in the formation of a healthy society, as well as in strengthening national unity and pride. Ukrainian athletes have achieved great success in the international arena, and their achievements have become a symbol of strength, endurance and determination.
Interesting facts
Ukrainian athletes are among the best in the world in various sports such as boxing, athletics, wrestling and swimming. Legendary boxers Vitaliy and Volodymyr Klitschko, Oleksandr Usyk, as well as track and field athletes Serhiy Bubka and Yana Klochkova made a great contribution to world sports.
Ukraine has one of the oldest sports traditions – modern football in Ukraine dates back to the end of the 19th century, and the Dynamo (Kyiv) and Shakhtar (Donetsk) clubs are among the most successful football teams in Eastern Europe.
The Paralympic team of Ukraine is one of the strongest in the world. At the Paralympic Games, Ukrainian athletes regularly take prize places, showing that there are no limits to achievements in sports.
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine actively supports the development of sports at all levels – from children’s sections to the training of Olympians. Thanks to this, Ukraine won more than 120 medals at the Olympic Games.
In the conditions of the war in Ukraine, sport also became a symbol of stability and indomitability. Sports events and training continue even in difficult conditions, which supports the morale of the population and shows that sport is a way of fighting for the future.
World First Aid Day
World First Aid Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of September and is an important reminder of how important first aid knowledge and skills are. In 2024, this day falls on September 14. The initiative was launched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies back in 2000 to raise awareness of first aid and the importance of providing it in critical situations.
The goal of the day is to teach as many people as possible the basics of first aid, because it can save lives. In Ukraine, especially in times of war, providing first aid is critically important. Military, volunteers and ordinary citizens face situations where quick response and knowledge depend on the life of the wounded.
Ukrainian schoolchildren learn to provide first aid as part of the school curriculum. Some schools offer special courses to teach basic skills such as applying tourniquets, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.
At the front, Ukrainian doctors and volunteers provide first aid every day, saving the lives of soldiers and civilians. Successful examples of evacuating the wounded from the battlefield prove that first aid skills are necessary for everyone.
The programs of the Red Cross in Ukraine are actively engaged in the training of volunteer doctors and conduct educational trainings for the public on providing first aid.
The first aid course can be completed online, thanks to the latest technologies, and many Ukrainians have already taken advantage of this opportunity in the conditions of the pandemic and war.
Historical events on this day
1068 year – The Kyiv Uprising became a decisive moment in the political life of Kyivan Rus. Residents of Kyiv revolted against Prince Izyaslav Yaroslavich, dissatisfied with his rule and failures in the war with the Polovtsy. The rebels freed Vseslav Bryachislavych, who had previously been captured by Izyaslav, from prison. This uprising proved the importance of popular support and the influence of the Kyiv community on political processes.
1797 year – another coup d’état took place in the French Republic, which became part of the stormy period after the French Revolution. This coup went down in history as the “Coup of 18 Fructidor” and was intended to strengthen the power of the Directory, in particular to resist the attempts of the monarchists to regain their power. It became another confirmation of the instability of the republican government on the way to the establishment of a more centralized power, which was later personified by Napoleon Bonaparte.
1812 year – the French army led by Napoleon entered Moscow during the famous invasion of Russia. It was a key moment in the Russo-French War of 1812, but the capture of the capital did not bring Napoleon the expected triumph. The burning of Moscow and the lack of surrender led to the moral and strategic collapse of the French army, which became a turning point in the war.
1871 year – the opening of the first bank – the Kharkiv joint-stock land bank – was an important event for the economy of Dnieper Ukraine. It was an important whirlwind in the development of the financial system of Ukraine, which contributed to the development of agriculture and entrepreneurship in the region, because the bank was engaged in lending to landowners and entrepreneurs. Its opening marked the beginning of the formation of banking infrastructure in Ukrainian lands.
1939 year – outstanding aircraft designer Ihor Sikorsky, who was born in Kyiv, made the first successful flight on his VS-300 helicopter in the USA. This became a real breakthrough in aviation, because Sikorsky not only developed one of the first operational helicopters, but also became the founder of an entire era in world aviation engineering. His contribution became decisive in the development of helicopter construction, and his inventions are still used all over the world.
1995 year – for Ukraine, this date has become significant in the context of international relations. An official ceremony for the adoption of the Individual Cooperation Program between Ukraine and NATO took place in Brussels. This was an important step towards the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and the establishment of close ties with NATO, which continue to develop today, especially in the context of modern security challenges.
2000 year – Microsoft Corporation released the Windows Millennium Edition (Windows ME) operating system, which became one of the first versions of Windows for home users with an improved interface and multimedia capabilities. Although Windows ME did not gain much popularity due to certain technical problems, it was another step in the development of operating systems, which prepared the ground for subsequent successful versions.
