Constitution Day

The Constitution is the nation's Fundamental Law, affirming its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legal order. It enshrines the people's right to self-determination and recognizes the individual, along with human life, health, honor, and dignity, as the highest social values of society.

The aspiration to establish a just legal system has deep historical roots. In 1710, Pylyp Orlyk, the Hetman—the country's highest political and military leader at the time—drafted the Pacts and Constitutions of the Rights and Freedoms of the Zaporizhian Host. Scholars around the world regard this document as an outstanding proto-constitution and a unique monument of Ukrainian legal thought.

At a time when absolutism dominated Europe and the power of monarchs was virtually unlimited, such an agreement represented a fundamentally new phenomenon in global legal culture. The preamble clearly proclaimed Ukraine's independence from Muscovy. Its remarkable provisions included the separation of power into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. The document limited the authority of the ruler, defined state borders, and protected the rights of citizens.

Following the defeat in the war against Muscovy and the forced exile of Ukrainian leaders, the constitution was applied mainly within Cossack communities abroad and remained limited in its practical implementation throughout the country. Nevertheless, these profound traditions of state-building and legal thought laid the foundation for the modern Constitution of Ukraine, adopted on June 28, 1996.

Today, the Constitution holds special significance. Since 2014, Ukraine has been defending its sovereignty, and russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 has brought severe challenges. The defense of territorial integrity and freedom continues every day through the courage of soldiers on the front lines and the resilience of civilians on the home front. Constitutional principles help society preserve unity in the face of external threats. Ukrainians demonstrate solidarity by sustaining the life of the nation.

Constitutional norms support the development of culture, the preservation of historical memory, and the protection of the state language. These values unite people and foster a shared responsibility for the future. Ukraine continues to strengthen its democratic institutions and expand international partnerships. Global support remains an important factor in defending the rule of law.

Resistance to russia’s aggression protects universal human values and the principles of international law. The Constitution of Ukraine remains a symbol of legal stability and the aspiration for a secure future for generations to come.