Today, 28 June, Ukraine marks one of its key national holidays \u2014 Constitution Day, commemorating the adoption of the Fundamental Law of independent Ukraine in 1996. On this day, following lengthy and intense debates, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the country\u2019s first Constitution as a sovereign state, laying the legal foundation for its existence. The document enshrined core principles: state sovereignty, territorial integrity, democratic governance, and fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the declaration of independence on 24 August 1991, Ukraine continued for some time to operate under the 1978 Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR \u2014 amended multiple times, but lacking a coherent, modern document that reflected the realities of the newly independent state. The drafting of a new Constitution began as early as 1990, even before independence was proclaimed, but the process proved extremely difficult due to political disagreements, lack of unity in parliament, and the overall turbulence of the transitional period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For several years, work continued on numerous drafts \u2014 both parliamentary and presidential. The Constitutional Commission, established in 1994, was co-chaired by President Leonid Kuchma, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Moroz, and Chairman of the Constitutional Court Ivan Tymchenko. In April 1996, various parliamentary factions formed a temporary special commission of the Verkhovna Rada, led by Oleksandr Lavrynovych, to finalize the draft. Beginning on 5 May 1996, a special committee chaired by Mykhailo Syrota played a key role in preparing the final text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Debates over the balance of powers, the status of Crimea, the state language, human rights, and social guarantees were especially contentious. There were repeated attempts to adopt a Constitutional Agreement as a temporary measure, but the need for a full-fledged Constitution became increasingly evident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between May and June 1996, the first reading of the draft Constitution took place (from 28 May to 4 June), after which nearly 6,000 amendments were submitted for the second reading. Tensions escalated on 26 June, when the National Security and Defense Council and the Council of Regions under the President called for the immediate adoption of the Constitution. President Kuchma publicly threatened to hold a nationwide referendum if parliament failed to approve the document. In response, the Verkhovna Rada resolved to work continuously until the Constitution was adopted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The decisive stage came in June 1996. Under pressure from political necessity and international commitments, the Verkhovna Rada convened for a historic session that lasted non-stop for 38 hours, from 27 to 28 June. That night became known in history as the \u201cconstitutional night.\u201d Members of parliament worked without sleep, in a tense atmosphere, often engaging in emotional debates, but with a clear sense of extraordinary responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the morning of 28 June 1996, at 9:18 a.m., 315 members of parliament voted in favor of the draft Constitution. That same day, President Leonid Kuchma signed the law, and Ukraine adopted its first Constitution as an independent state. This decision marked a historic breakthrough \u2014 laying the foundations of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, the rule of law, democracy, and human rights. Simultaneously, the Law\u00a0On the Entry into Force of the Constitution of Ukraine<\/em> came into effect, repealing the 1978 Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR and the 1995 Constitutional Agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the only national holiday enshrined directly in the Constitution itself\u2014in Article 161.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Today, the Constitution is not merely a text on paper, but a foundation of resistance during wartime, a symbol of national defiance, and the pursuit of justice. In the face of Russian aggression, the constitutional provisions on independence, sovereignty, and human rights have taken on even greater significance. Ukrainians are defending their state by standing firmly on the very values enshrined in the Fundamental Law \u2014 dignity, freedom, and the right to choose their own future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The adoption of the Constitution was not simply a legal act, but a historic breakthrough in Ukraine\u2019s state-building journey. The Constitution of Ukraine became a symbol of the country\u2019s transition from a post-Soviet regime to a democratic, rule-of-law state in which the individual is the highest value.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":74613,"template":"","publication-type":[43],"class_list":["post-74693","press-center","type-press-center","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","publication-type-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n