Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity in Ukraine Date in the current year: May 21, 2025

Ukrainians are the titular nation of Ukraine, making up more than three-quarters of the country’s population. However, they are not the only indigenous ethnic group in Ukraine. According to Ukrainian legislation, Crimean Tatars, Crimean Karaites, and Krymchaks are considered indigenous to Ukraine, more specifically to Crimea. They differ from other ethnic minorities living in Ukraine because they do not have their own state outside Ukraine, i.e. there is no other state that could ensure the preservation of their traditions, culture and identity.

Other ethnic groups living in Ukraine include Russians, Jews, Poles, Germans, Moldovans, Romanians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Belarusians, Czechs and Slovaks, Hungarians, Tatars, Armenians, Greeks, Azerbaijanis, Georgians, Gagauz, Roma, Koreans of the Koryo-saram group (ethnic Koreans of the former Soviet Union), and others. In total, there are more than 100 different ethnic groups in Ukraine, accounting for more than 20% of the country’s total population.

The rights of national minorities in Ukraine are defined by the Law on National Minorities (Communities) of Ukraine adopted in 2022. According to the law, Ukrainian citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, have equal civil, political, economic, cultural and linguistic rights and freedoms as defined by the Constitution of Ukraine.

In addition, persons belonging to national minorities (communities) have the right to self-identification; freedom of public associations and peaceful assembly; freedom of expression of opinions and beliefs, thought, speech, conscience and religion; participation in political, economic and social life; use of the language of a national minority (community); education, including education in their native language; preservation of their cultural identity.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy established the Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity by his decree dated December 27, 2024. According to the decree, the main goals of the new holiday are to strengthen the unity and harmony of the Ukrainian people, to affirm Ukrainian national and civic identity, to promote the free development of the cultural diversity of the indigenous peoples and national minorities (communities) of Ukraine, and to show respect for their contribution to the defense of state sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

The Day of Interethnic Harmony and Cultural Diversity is not a public holiday, but it is marked by various events and activities organized by government agencies, educational institutions, cultural centers, NGOs and other stakeholders. These events are intended to emphasize the importance of mutual respect, tolerance and unity in a multinational state and to remind people that the true strength of a nation lies in its unity in diversity.