The AFUO extends its sincerest thank you and congratulations to all Ukrainian-Australian state councils/hromadas, community organisations, coordinating committees and attendees for an incredible week of Independence Day celebrations to mark 35 years of Ukraine’s restored independence on 24 August 2026.
Events included the vibrant Ukrainian Festival Brisbane 2026; concerts and performances featuring Ukrainian dance, music and culture in Adelaide, Hobart and Perth; flag march along Sydney’s Bondi Beach and North Bondi RSL-supported event; rally in Federation Square and Ukrainian market day in Melbourne; rally in Canberra; and community celebration in Darwin!
We were honoured by the attendance of Lt. Viktoriia Savkiv of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at community events in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko at events in Canberra and Sydney.
Our state hromady and community received messages of support from Her Excellency the Hon. Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, the Prime Minister the Hon. Anthony Albanese, Senator the Hon Penny Wong – Senator for SA, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and SA Premier the Hon. Peter Malinauskas, with the attendance of many more political leaders at events incl. the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Foreign Affairs & Trade, Kara Cook MP (QLD), Senator Charlotte Walker (SA), Senator Andrew Wilkie MP – Independent Member for Clark (TAS) and Luke Gosling MP (NT).
We also thank the many consular representatives, state MPs, local councillors and ethnic community representatives who attended events around the country, Australian band breath. for their support, and the Brisbane City Council, Queensland Parliament and the Queensland Government for lighting Brisbane’s landmark buildings in blue and yellow
Slava Ukraini!
- Video from Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1034118485904655
- Remarks at Ukraine Independence Day Sydney commemoration from the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP: https://ministers.dfat.gov.au/minister/matt-thistlethwaite/speech/remarks-ukraine-independence-day-commemoration
- Message from Senator the Hon Penny Wong: https://afuo.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Ukraine-national-day-message-form-the-Foreign-Minister.pdf
- Message from the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19gpZxNHhF/
Ukrainian Council of NSW – ОУГ НПВUkrainian Community of Queensland Inc.Association of Ukrainians in VictoriaAssociation of Ukrainians in SAAssociation of Ukrainians in TasmaniaUAANT : Ukrainian-Australian Association of Northern Territory IncorporatedUkrainian Association Western Australia
#UkraineIndependenceDay2026 #35YearsOfIndependence #UkrainianAustralians #StandWithUkraine
