Ukraine Independence Day

Ukraine marked the 23rd anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union on Sunday with a huge military parade in the capital, Kyiv.

Dressed in traditional embroidered shirts or the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, thousands of Ukrainians attended the celebrations in Kyiv's Independence Square, known locally as the "Maidan."

A parade including armored vehicles and hundreds of soldiers advanced through the city's main square in front of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who said in a speech that the war they were fighting was a war of independence that would go into the history books.

Many of the soldiers taking part in the military procession were due to head to war against pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine soon afterwards.

"Before you, a new military column is heading directly to the zone of the 'anti-terrorist' operation," Poroshenko said.

Prior to the soldiers' march-past, Poroshenko also laid wreaths with his family at the memorials of around 100 street protesters who were shot dead by police snipers in February of this year, days before former president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.

'Glory to Ukraine!'

Earlier on Sunday, Poroshenko tweeted a number of messages celebrating the anniversary of Ukraine's independence and thanking the country's armed forces, all of which ended with "Glory to Ukraine!"

One read, "Happy Independence Day of Ukraine! I wish you peace and unity. Glory to Ukraine!"

Another tweet said, "This is the birth of a new country. Ukraine. Thank Ukrainian people! Glory to the heroes! Glory to Ukraine!"

Military threat remains

In his Independence Day speech, Poroshenko addressed the current crisis in the country's east, saying that Ukraine would remain under constant military threat for the foreseeable future.

"I am convinced that the battle for Ukraine, for independence, will be our success," Poroshenko told the crowds.

"War has come to us from over the horizon where it was never expected," he said, referring to Russia.

"In the 21st century, in the center of Europe, there is a flagrant attempt to breach the border of a sovereign state without declaring war," he said. "It is as if the world has returned to the 1930s, the eve of World War II."

Poroshenko also announced that between 2015 and 2017 more than 40 billion hryvnia (2.3 billion euros / $3 billion) would be allocated to rearmament.

Despite Sunday's celebrations, conflict continued in eastern Ukraine where artillery bombs hit one of Donetsk's biggest hospitals early on Sunday, damaging a morgue and two other buildings. No casualties were reported.

In Donetsk's Lenin Square, rebels displayed destroyed Ukrainian military hardware in an attempt to detract from the festivities in Kyiv.

German visit

During a flying visit to Ukraine on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a bilateral ceasefire from Ukraine and Russia.

Poroshenko is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Belarus on Tuesday, less than a week after a Russian convoy of 260 vehicles left Ukraine which Kyiv and Western countries suspected of smuggling supplies and reinforcements for rebel fighters.

Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations and insists the convoy was carrying humanitarian aid for civilians.

Separatists have so far rejected Poroshenko's peace plan, which calls for the militants to lay down their weapons before a ceasefire. The pro-Russian separatists dismissed the plan, calling it a demand for surrender.

According to figures from the United Nations, more than 2,000 people have died in fighting since the crisis began.

ksb/nm (dpa, Reuters)