On September 22, Ukraine celebrates the National Day of Partisan Glory, the All-Ukrainian Preschool Day, and the World Day Without Cars in the world.
Hetman Ivan Mazepa died on September 22, 1709.
On September 22, 1975, the second attempt on the life of US President Gerald Ford was made in a month.
National Day of Partisan Glory
This holiday was established in 2001 by the Decree of the President of Ukraine in order to honor the memory of partisans and underground fighters who fought for the freedom and independence of their Motherland during the Second World War. It is a symbol of heroism and courage of thousands of people who risked their lives in the conditions of occupation to liberate their land.
The date of September 22 was not chosen by chance: it was on this day in 1941 that one of the most famous partisan units, led by Sydor Kovpak, began combat operations in the Sumy region in the Putivlia district. This event marked the beginning of an active partisan struggle on Ukrainian lands against the German-fascist invaders.
The guerrilla movement played an important role in the fight against the occupation forces on the territory of Ukraine. Underground and partisans carried out sabotage on transport routes, destroyed enemy garrisons, spread anti-Nazi propaganda, helped civilians and saved Jews from persecution. Thousands of Ukrainians of different ages, genders and nationalities took part in the partisan movement.
Interesting facts
One of the most famous partisan units was a unit under the command of Sydor Kovpak. In 1942-1943, they carried out several large-scale raids, including the Carpathian raid, which passed through 12 regions and caused significant losses to the enemy.
In addition to the forest partisans, the activity of underground organizations in the cities was also active. One of the most famous such movements was the Kyiv Underground Committee, which during 1941-1943 carried out numerous sabotage and sabotage actions.
Among the partisans there were many women who performed not only medical and economic duties, but also took part in combat operations. Famous partisans were Olena Teliga, Nataliya Zabila and Zoya Kosmodemyanska.
Many Ukrainian partisans were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union for their bravery and contribution to the fight against the Nazis. Among them are Sydir Kovpak, Oleksiy Fedorov, Dmytro Medvedev and others.
The legacy of partisan struggle is reflected in modern Ukraine.
During the Russian-Ukrainian war, many volunteers, taking an example from the partisans of the past, organized sabotage groups in the occupied territories, supporting the struggle for independence and freedom.
All-Ukrainian preschool day
This is a professional holiday of educators, teachers and all kindergarten workers. This holiday is a symbol of recognition of the important role of preschool education in the development of a child’s personality and the formation of the foundations for future learning.
The All-Ukrainian Preschool Day was launched in 2011 at the initiative of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine with the aim of drawing attention to the problems and achievements of preschool education. This day became a great opportunity to express gratitude to those who work every day to educate the country’s youngest citizens.
Preschool education is the first step in the educational system, where children acquire basic skills and knowledge. It promotes the development of speech, thinking, emotional intelligence, as well as the socialization of children. It is in kindergartens that children learn to communicate, resolve conflicts, and cooperate with peers and adults.
By the beginning of 2024, there were more than 14,000 preschool educational institutions in Ukraine, attended by more than 1.2 million children. During the war, some kindergartens were forced to suspend their activities or switch to an online format.
In many kindergartens in Ukraine, innovative educational methods are implemented, such as the Montessori method, the Nikitin system of early development, and other programs aimed at developing children’s creative abilities.
One of the urgent problems of preschool education is insufficient funding, especially in rural regions. Also, a large number of kindergartens need major repairs and updating of the material and technical base.
According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, more than 200,000 teachers work in preschools, most of whom are women. Low wages and high workload are among the main reasons for the shortage of personnel in the industry.
More and more preschools are implementing inclusive education, providing access to education for children with special educational needs. This allows children with different needs to develop together with their peers, which contributes to their socialization and integration into society.
World Car Free Day
On September 22, many countries around the world celebrate World Car Free Day, an event that encourages people to give up using personal vehicles at least for one day. This is a great opportunity to think about the impact cars have on the environment and human health, and to find alternative ways of moving.
World Car Free Day was first celebrated in 1994 in Iceland. The idea quickly spread throughout Europe, and in 2000 the event received official status from the European Union. Since then, more and more cities around the world have joined this initiative, urging their residents to give up cars at least for one day and switch to bicycles, public transport or even walking.
The main goal of this day is to reduce the level of air pollution, reduce traffic noise and draw attention to the problem of oversaturation of cities with cars. In many cities, on this day, central streets are closed to traffic, and various events are organized to promote ecological modes of transport and a healthy lifestyle.
Interesting facts
In 2023, more than 2,000 cities in 46 countries took part in the campaign, including Paris, Madrid, Brussels and Mexico City. In many cities, this day has already become a tradition that is supported at the state level.
Research shows that regularly reducing the number of cars in large cities contributes to the improvement of the economic situation. For example, in London, the ban on cars in the city center has led to an increase in retail trade and increased footfall in public catering establishments.
Reducing car use helps improve air quality, which is especially important for people with respiratory conditions. Also, an active way of moving – walks, bicycle trips – helps maintain physical fitness and reduces stress.
In many cities around the world, such as Amsterdam and Copenhagen, up to 50% of the population use bicycles every day. These cities are known for their developed cycling infrastructure, which significantly reduces the need to use cars.
On this day, many cities organize flash mobs, bike rides, festivals and exhibitions on the topic of ecological transport. This contributes to the formation of eco-awareness in society and unites people around the common goal of making cities more ecological and comfortable for life.
Historical events on this day
1908 – Bulgaria officially became an independent state
This year, Bulgaria received international recognition of its independence, which marked the end of a long struggle for liberation from the Ottoman Empire. The Principality of Bulgaria de jure became a sovereign state, which allowed the country to begin a new stage of its political and economic development.
1917 – Simon Petliura presented a bill on the Free Cossacks
During the meeting of the General Secretariat of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, Simon Petlyura, the future commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, presented a draft law on the creation of the Free Cossacks. This military formation was aimed at protecting Ukrainian statehood and restoring national military traditions in times of political instability.
1939 – The Soviet Union and the Third Reich defined a demarcation line in Poland
The USSR and Germany agreed on a preliminary demarcation line between their occupation zones on the territory of Poland, defining the limits of their influence in the divided country. This was an important part of their arrangements for the division of Eastern Europe.
1941 – Resumption of activity of the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Church Council in occupied Kyiv
The Nazi occupation administration in Kyiv allowed the resumption of the work of the All-Ukrainian Orthodox Church Council, which had been dissolved by the Soviet authorities. This became part of the Nazis’ policy of winning the local population over to their side by restoring religious institutions.
1955 – Military coup in Argentina: removal from power of Juan Peron
A military coup took place in Argentina, as a result of which the government of dictator Juan Peron was overthrown. This marked the beginning of a period of political instability and military regimes that succeeded each other over the following decades.
1980 – The start of the Iran-Iraq war
On September 22, the armed conflict between Iran and Iraq began, which lasted eight years. The war caused enormous human losses, economic losses and changed the political landscape of the Middle East.
1993 – Resignation of Leonid Kuchma from the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine
Leonid Kuchma, who held the post of Prime Minister of Ukraine since 1992, was dismissed. This decision was related to the political crisis and economic difficulties that the country was experiencing at the time.
2012 – Tragic death of ex-world boxing champion Corrie Sanders
Corrie Sanders, former world heavyweight boxing champion, was fatally wounded in a Pretoria restaurant during an armed robbery. The next day, he died in hospital from his injuries. His death came as a great shock to the world boxing community.
The second attempt on the life of US President Gerald Ford in a month
On September 22, 1975, Sarah Jane Moore, a 45-year-old American, made the second attempt on the life of US President Gerald Ford in a month. Interestingly, a little earlier, on September 5, another woman, Lynette Fromm, also tried to kill the president. It remains a mystery why Gerald Ford so displeased these women. Of course, they are unlikely to ever discover the truth. It is officially known that Sarah Jane Moore was a mother of many children – she had five children from four marriages. She worked as an accountant and had connections with left-wing radical groups in California. What’s more, she was an FBI agent at the same time, which probably didn’t endear her to either left-wing activists or the police. Because of this, they gradually began to forget about her.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., when President Ford left the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, he was met by a crowd of thousands of people. Sarah Jane Moore was standing 15 meters away from him and unexpectedly fired a .38 caliber pistol. She was spotted by Oliver Sipple, an ex-naval sailor who was 33 years old. He grabbed her arm in time, and the bullet hit 42-year-old taxi driver John Ludwig. Fortunately, he survived. The president was quickly placed in a limousine, which immediately took him to San Francisco International Airport.
Later, during questioning, Moore admitted that if she had not been in a hurry to pick up her son from school, the incident might not have happened. She also added that if she had her favorite 44-caliber pistol, which was seized by the police the day before, she would definitely have hit the president. The attack was classified as an attempt by a lone individual to solve his own psychological problems, seeking recognition through a shocking act with political undertones.
34 years have passed, and Sarah gave an interview in which she admitted that at the time she truly believed that America needed revolutionary change, and the assassination of the president could be the spark that ignited it. However, over time, she realized that her actions were “wrong… a serious mistake.” Moore also stated that it was while in prison that she realized she had been taken advantage of. She spent more than 30 years behind bars. She is still alive, and even became the heroine of a book written about her life. But President Ford, whom she tried to kill, is no longer among the living.
Death of Hetman Ivan Mazepa
On September 22, 1709, Hetman Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa died in the city of Bendery, which is on the territory of modern Moldova. He was seventy years old. He was the last Ukrainian politician who tried to preserve the Hetmanship as an independent political force in the conditions of difficult international relations. In the last days of Mazepa’s life, he suffered unbearable physical suffering due to numerous incurable diseases. He constantly lost consciousness from the pain, and during brief periods of clarity of mind he begged his relatives: “Give me poison – poison!”.
The hetman’s condition was so serious that his officers and servants decided to resort to an ancient tradition – they punched a hole in the ceiling of the peasant’s house where he was staying, in order to ease the suffering of his soul during parting with his body.
In 1903, the journal “Kyivska Starovyna” published the testimony of the close King of Sweden Carl XII Gustav Zoldan:
“When I came to Mazepa, he was very weak. He asked me to stay with him and watch over his belongings, which were in his room: a chest, two casks filled with ducats, and two traveling bags, in which were kept all his jewels and a large number of gold medals. Sacks lay under his head, and barrels with ducats stood next to the bed. He asked me to make sure that none of his people took or took anything from his room.”
There is evidence that these treasures partly consisted of a loan that Charles XII received from Mazepa at 6% per annum. So, Sweden owes Ukraine a lot! Some of these funds were never found, which feeds the legend about the “treasures of Mazepa”. According to some contemporaries, the hetman’s treasury stored gold and jewels worth a billion dollars today. Where these riches are now remains a mystery.
After his death, the body of Ivan Mazepa was transported to the city of Galati, on the territory of modern Romania, where he was buried with great honor in the church of St. George. His coffin, mounted on a sleigh, was carried by six pairs of white horses, and his mourners followed behind the grave.
With the declaration of Ukraine’s independence, the question of searching for and reburying the remains of Ivan Mazepa in the Motherland was repeatedly raised. In 2017, former President Viktor Yushchenko even visited Galati to discuss this issue. However, this plan could not be implemented, because in 1962, the church of St. George was destroyed along with all the buildings around it, and a multi-story residential building was built in its place.
Hetman Ivan Mazepa, one of the most prominent Ukrainian political figures, ended his life in exile, far from his native land. His figure remains a symbol of the struggle for Ukraine’s independence, and the secret of his treasures has not yet been revealed.
