Today, 12 August, we mark Ukraine’s Youth Day — a daily reminder of the relentless strength, energy, and unbreakable spirit of our young generation, which is the true future of the Ukrainian state. This celebration has taken on special significance since 2021, when, by Presidential Decree, it was decided to observe it specifically on 12 August — International Youth Day.

On this day, we express our gratitude to those who demonstrate their dedication to Ukraine every day: to the young people defending our freedom in the ranks of the Armed Forces; to the volunteers who provide assistance in the most difficult moments; and to those who gave their lives for a free Ukraine — you will forever remain a symbol of true strength and resilience. Special recognition goes to the youth who continue to carry the Ukrainian spirit in the temporarily occupied territories. Despite the threat of persecution, you persist in resisting the Russian occupiers, preserving identity, culture, and faith in the unity and freedom of our country.

This day is also about those who are confidently stepping into the future and already preparing to lead the processes of reintegration and rebuilding of Ukraine, including the liberation of Ukrainian Crimea. Your dreams, engagement, and talent are the foundation on which a flourishing peninsula within a united state will emerge.

Over the past year, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, together with young people from various regions — Kharkiv, Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Poltava, and Ostroh — has organized a series of interactive workshops with facilitated dialogues. Participants discussed what national unity means to them, how they envision the future after the de-occupation of Crimea, what challenges and opportunities this process will present, and how to build trust between youth from the free territories and from Crimea. During these dialogues, young people identified tools that can help unite the country — from educational programmes and cultural initiatives to volunteer projects.

The results of these discussions demonstrated that young people are ready to take an active role in shaping reintegration policy and jointly designing the future. Those who are already reflecting on the values, strategies, and approaches to the return of Crimea will, in the future, be the ones shaping the policy of de-occupation and recovery.

The youth of Ukraine is our power, our hope, and our freedom. You are the driving force leading us toward a restored, sovereign, and united Ukraine. Together, we are creating a future in which Crimea is a flourishing, free region within a democratic state.

Happy International Youth Day!