Today, March 10, marks Ukrainian National Anthem Day, celebrating Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy (Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished).
This anthem, a symbol of resilience and national identity, was first performed in 1865 in memory of the poet Taras Shevchenko, a major figure in Ukrainian culture and history.
The lyrics, a patriotic poem written by Pavlo Chubynsky, were later set to music by Mykhailo Verbytsky. Officially adopted in 1917 during Ukraine’s independence, the anthem was subsequently banned under Soviet rule before being reinstated as the national anthem following the country’s regained independence in 1991.
Its lyrics celebrate the freedom and determination of the Ukrainian people:
“Ukraine’s glory and freedom have not yet perished,
Luck will still smile on us, young brothers.
Our enemies will vanish, like dew in the sun,
And we too, brothers, shall rule in our land.
For our freedom, we will lay down our souls and bodies,
And prove, brothers, that we are the Cossack nation.”
Throughout the centuries, this anthem has accompanied the Ukrainian people’s struggle for sovereignty and independence. Today, it continues to resonate as a call for freedom and unity in the face of Russia’s attempt at annihilation.
