Ukraine Sheds Tears for Its Sons (the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred)

On February 20 is the Day of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred is a memorable day celebrated Heavenly Hundred in Ukraine to honour the heroism of the participants of the Revolution of Dignity and perpetuate the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, who laid down their lives in defence of the ideals of democracy, human rights and freedoms, European future of Ukraine.

These days right years ago, during the Revolution of Dignity (November 2013 – February 2014), the confrontation between the Ukrainian people and the official authorities was on its peak.

The sad list of the Heavenly Hundred started on January 22, 2014, when Maidan activists Serhii Nihoian and Mykhailo Zhyznevskyi died from gunshot wounds during clashes in the centre of the capital. By February 18, 2014, there were already 9 dead. From February 18 to 20, the largest number of people died on the Maidan: 78 people; after February 20 – another 20. In addition to Ukrainians, the victims of the regime were Belarusians, Armenians and Georgians. All of them were counted in the memorial to the fighters for Ukrainian Independence – to the Heavenly Hundred.

On February 21, 2014, the official authorities of Ukraine legally recognized the dead Maidan protesters as the victims. On this day, a farewell ceremony was held on the Maidan for the fallen heroes, who were called the Heavenly Hundred in mourning speeches. During the farewell, a mourning song “Plyne kacha…” was heard, which became a Ukrainian folk requiem.

104 Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred were posthumously awarded the title of Heroes of Ukraine, and three foreigners: Mykhailo Zhyznevskyi, a citizen of Belarus, Zurab Khurtsiia and Davyd Kipiani – of Georgia, posthumously were awarded twith he Order of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.

The Revolution of Dignity is a breaking point in the recent history of our state. Its events have changed all of us.

On the Day of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, we pay tribute to those who sacrificed the most valuable thing for our future – their lives, whose self-sacrifice became the key to victory of the Revolution of Dignity, the triumph of the indomitable Ukrainian spirit over insidious attempts to subdue us. The feat of the heroes of the Heavenly Hundred is of great importance for our Motherland. First of all, they gave their lives for each of our new days to be full of freedom, hope and light.

To honour the heroism of the participants of the Revolution of Dignity and perpetuate the memory of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, the employees of the Information and Bibliographic Department of the TNMU Library prepared a virtual exhibition “Ukraine weeps bitterly for its sons.”

Welcome to the exhibition “Ukraine Sheds Tears for Its Sons!”