Aviation Day in Ukraine Date in the current year: August 31, 2024

Celebration of Aviation Day is associated with Air Fleet Day, observed in the Soviet Union. That holiday was established in 1933 and it annually fell on August 18 commemorating the formation of the first aviation unit of the Russian Empire in 1912.

After collapse of the Soviet Union some independent countries renamed the holiday, moved to other dates or even canceled it. The first President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk signed a decree on establishment of Aviation Day in Ukraine, that is annually observed on the last Saturday in August.

Originally this day was a professional holiday of the workers of Ukrainian civil aviation, but in 1996 some amendments were made and Aviation Day became also the holiday honoring military aviation. However, President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko established Air Force Day, that is a professional holiday of military aviators. Thus Aviation Day again became a holiday praising civilian aviators and employees of aviation and transport industry in Ukraine.