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Home > 10 Phrases to Celebrate Ukraine’s Independence
10 Phrases to Celebrate Ukraine’s Independence
Learn Ukrainian phrases for Independence Day that help you celebrate Ukraine, show support, and connect with Ukrainians.
Milana Sribniak
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This year, on August 24, Ukraine marks the 35th Independence Day — День Незалежності України.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, this date has taken on an even deeper meaning. Independence is not something Ukrainians can simply take for granted: people are defending it every day, at an enormous cost. For Ukrainians, August 24 is therefore both a national celebration and a day to remember what freedom requires.
If you are learning Ukrainian, using a few words in Ukrainian is a meaningful way to join the occasion. Some of the expressions below are traditional greetings for Independence Day, while others are phrases you will often see on signs, social media, clothing, or messages of support.
Here are 10 Ukrainian phrases to celebrate Ukraine’s independence, with their meanings and notes on when to use them.
1. З Днем Незалежності України! — Happy Independence Day of Ukraine!
З Днем Незалежності України is the most direct way to congratulate on Ukraine’s Independence Day. You can use it with anyone celebrating the holiday. It works equally well in a personal message, a social media post, or when greeting someone in person on August 24.
A shorter version is also common:
З Днем Незалежності! — Happy Independence Day!
Notice the structure з + instrumental case: з ДнемНезалежності. You will find the same pattern in many other Ukrainian holiday greetings.
2. Слава Україні! Glory to Ukraine!
Few Ukrainian expressions are as recognizable as:
Слава Україні! — Glory to Ukraine!
The response is:
Героям Слава! — Glory to the Heroes!
Today, you can hear this call and response at public events, in the military, at international gatherings supporting Ukraine, and in everyday conversations.
On Independence Day, the greeting feels especially appropriate because it connects the celebration of Ukrainian statehood with the people who have defended it.
And unlike a holiday-specific greeting, this expression is used throughout the year.
Learnpowerful Ukrainian wordsthat capture the spirit of Ukraine today. Listen to their pronunciation, learn their meanings, and explore a quick grammar lesson on the third declension.
3. Слава ЗСУ! — Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine!
ЗСУ is one of the most important abbreviations to know in contemporary Ukrainian. It stands for:
Збройні Сили України — the Armed Forces of Ukraine
You will often see and hear this phrase as an expression of gratitude and support for the people defending Ukraine.
On Independence Day, Слава ЗСУ acknowledges a reality that is impossible to separate from the holiday today: Ukraine is able to celebrate its independence thanks to its defenders.
You can use this phrase not only on August 24, but whenever you want to express support and respect for Ukraine’s military.
Explore15 key Ukrainian wartime words and concepts, listen to their pronunciation, learn the context and related vocabulary, and better understand the language of Ukraine today.
4. Україна понад усе! — Ukraine above all!
Unlike a casual greeting, Україна понад усе is actually a slogan. You may hear it at patriotic events or see it in public messages and social media posts connected with Ukrainian identity, resistance, and national solidarity.
On Independence Day, it can express a powerful commitment to Ukraine and its freedom.
5. Все буде Україна! — Everything will be Ukraine!
At first glance, Все буде Україна! may sound unusual in English.
Literally, it means: Everything will be Ukraine!
The phrase became a hopeful expression of confidence in Ukraine’s future and victory. It plays on the common Ukrainian reassurance Все буде добре! — Everything will be fine!
You can see Все буде Україна! on posters, postcards, T-shirts, street art, and social media. It is often used to express optimism and determination during the war.
6. Я люблюУкраїну. — I love Ukraine.
Sometimes the most natural phrase is also one of the simplest:
Я люблюУкраїну. — I love Ukraine.
For beginners, this is also a useful sentence to remember grammatically. Україна changes to Україну from the nominative to accusative cases because it is the object of the verb любити — to love.
You might say it because Ukraine is your home, because you have Ukrainian roots, because someone close to you is Ukrainian, or because learning the language has brought the country closer to you.
This sentence can express pride in Ukraine itself, its culture, language, people, resilience, achievements, or resistance.
Я пишаюся Україною is particularly fitting for Independence Day, when Ukrainians reflect on the country’s path since independence was restored in 1991 and on everything Ukraine continues to defend today.
Here, Україна becomes Україною because the verb пишатися (to be proud of) requires the instrumental case.
8. Разом до перемоги! — Together toward victory!
This is a concise phrase you can encounter in Ukraine during the full-scale war.
Разом до перемоги emphasizes collective effort. It can accompany fundraising campaigns, volunteer initiatives, messages supporting the Armed Forces, community projects, or public expressions of solidarity.
On Independence Day, it reminds us that celebration and responsibility exist side by side: Ukraine’s independence continues to be defended, and everyone should contribute in different ways.
9. Україно, ми з тобою! — Ukraine, we are with you!
This phrase is especially suitable for people outside Ukraine who want to express solidarity. You might use Україно, ми з тобою at a rally, in a message from an international community, on a poster, or in an Independence Day post.
There is one interesting grammatical detail here. Україно is the vocative case of Україна, used because Ukraine is being addressed directly.
10. Україна в моєму серці. — Ukraine is in my heart.
For some people, that connection comes from family or heritage. Others have lived or traveled in Ukraine, made Ukrainian friends, volunteered, discovered Ukrainian culture, or started learning the language after Russia’s invasion.
On Independence Day, thе phrase Україна в моєму серці can work as a personal message when a more formal greeting does not quite express what you feel.
Keep learning Ukrainian and supporting Ukraine
Learning a language is also a way of learning how people speak about the things that matter deeply to them. On Ukraine’s Independence Day, even a short message in Ukrainian can show that you have taken the time to understand and use the language.
Choose one or two phrases from this list, practice saying them aloud, and use them when you speak with Ukrainians or share your Independence Day message.
If you would like to continue learning, explore these Ukrainian Lessons resources:
