On Sunday, March 19, an ecumenical memorial service was held at the Veretsky Pass for the fallen soldiers of the Carpathian Ukraine. In 1939, several hundred captured by the Hungarian units of the Sichovyks of the Carpathian Ukraine were shot for fighting for the independence of their native land.
With a joint prayer, representatives of the public, local authorities, deputies of the Lviv Regional Council, people’s deputies, scientists honored the memory of the Sichovites and laid flowers and lighted lamps at their graves. Galician Academic Choir, to the musical accompaniment of the Brass Band of the National Academy of Land Forces of Ukraine named after P. Sahaydachny performed the National Anthem of Ukraine.
According to candidate of historical sciences Mykola Posivnych, in March 1939, the Sichovites did not cooperate with the Hungarian occupation troops. These young men did not betray their own people and were shot for that.
The head of the Commission on Culture, Information Policy and Promotion of the Lviv Regional Council Svyatoslav Sheremeta said that the Memorial Cemetery of the Heroes of Carpathian Ukraine on the Veretsky Pass was established in 2017 on the initiative of the Lviv Regional Council. The remains of 22 Sichovniks are buried here. It is now a national memorial.
“According to various sources, after the occupation of Transcarpathia, about 600 people were shot. During the search expeditions, specialists of the “Dolya” Memorial and Search Center managed to exhume and rebury the remains of 22 people. The struggle for Carpathian Ukraine is an important stage of our history,” Svyatoslav Sheremeta explained.
“The memorial on the Veretsky Pass is our holy place, we must bring children here and show them the example of our Heroes,” emphasized the head of the Lviv Regional Council, Iryna Hrymak. She noted that now, after 84 years, the sons and daughters of our people are giving their lives again in the war for their own state.
“Every Ukrainian soul aches from the suffering brought to us by the war, at the same time, each of us feels proud to be a descendant of great Heroes, fighters for the freedom, honor and dignity of our nation. Everyone should feel responsible for Ukraine, its history, culture. We are united by blue and yellow hearts and love for our native land, which in all centuries gives birth to Heroes. We have withstood this difficult year thanks to our own unity, but we face new challenges and a difficult struggle ahead. Eternal memory to the Carpathian Sichovs and all the newest Ukrainian Heroes, glory to the great Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are winning back victory and independence for Ukraine,” emphasized Iryna Hrymak.