President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that this year today’s date combines two meanings – Vyshyvanka Day and the beginning of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people by the Soviet authorities 79 years ago.
“This year – two meanings, united by one date, May 18, 79 years ago on this day, the Soviet authorities began the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, a people who they wanted to erase, deprive of their homes, deprive them of the right to life. But the people survived. And will live freely!”,- the President noted.
“Today I am wearing a special embroidered shirt with ornaments symbolizing the unity of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples. Symbols of our strength and our desire to live in our own home”,- the president said.
Zelenskyy noted that “let this Vyshyvanka Day in Ukraine become a reminder of what our people had to go through and how strong our culture is.”
“Eternal memory to all our people whose lives were taken away by totalitarian regimes! We respect our peoples, their strength and culture!”,– stressed the head of the Ukrainian state.