Day of defenders of Ukraine
Public holiday (a working day under martial law) in Ukraine · День захисників і захисниць України
Dates
| Year | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Sunday 1 October 2023 | Working day |
| 2024 | Tuesday 1 October 2024 | Working day |
| 2025 | Wednesday 1 October 2025 | Working day |
| 2026 | Thursday 1 October 2026 | Working day |
| 2027 | Friday 1 October 2027 | Working day |
| 2028 | Sunday 1 October 2028 | Working day |
| 2029 | Monday 1 October 2029 | Working day |
Where it applies
Some regions only.
Is it a day off?
No. Under martial law, public holidays in Ukraine are working days: offices, schools and businesses keep their normal hours, and it is not counted in the long weekends on this site.
Forecast for Friday 1 October in Kyiv: (MET Norway)
About Day of defenders of Ukraine
The Day of Defenders of Ukraine honours the country's military and all who defend it. Since 2023 it has been marked on 1 October, the feast of the Intercession of the Theotokos (Pokrova) in the revised calendar; before that it was held on 14 October. Under martial law it is a working day.
Traditions
People honour soldiers and veterans, remember those who have died, and many lay flowers at memorials.
Editorial summary by Public Holidays World. Dates on this page come from the data source; customs vary by region and family.
What else is celebrated around the world on 1 October →
More for Ukraine
All public holidays in Ukraine by year:
Holiday dates are for general information and can change. Official government announcements take precedence.
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