The Constitution of Ukraine is not only a fundamental law, but also a symbol of Ukrainian statehood. The temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol is the sovereign territory of Ukraine, and the citizens living there are Ukrainian citizens.

Although the Verkhovna Rada adopted the fundamental law of Ukraine on June 28, 1996, it is important to recognize that Ukraine has a long history of legislative tradition, including the Treaty and Establishment of the Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporozhian Army (1710), the social contract concluded by Hetman Pylyp Orlyk with the Cossack leaders and the Cossacks, and other significant documents.

As stated in Article 2 of the Constitution: “The territory of Ukraine within its present border is indivisible and inviolable.” We have been defending it from the Russian aggressor for more than 10 years. We are defending not only our land and territorial integrity, but also our independence, democracy, freedom, and our European choice.

Let us commit to memory of the Constitution’s tenets and strive to make them a symbol of national unity once more.