Ukraine Declares Day of Mourning for Kyiv Bombing Casualties

Ukraine has declared July 2 a national day of mourning to commemorate the casualties caused by Russia’s bombing of Kyiv. The death toll from the attack has risen to 30. On July 2, Russia carried out a large‑scale bombing of Ukraine’s capital, inflicting extensive loss of life and property. In response, the Ukrainian government announced that July 2 would be observed as a nationwide day of mourning.

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe that shares borders with Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova. Its capital and largest city is Kyiv; other major cities include Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro. Ukrainian is the official language. The country covers 603,628 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 32.3 million. Human settlement on the land dates back to about 32,000 BCE. In the Middle Ages, Ukraine was a frontier of the early Slavs and later became a key centre of East Slavic culture.

Ukraine’s history has seen numerous wars and foreign domination, including Mongol invasions and rule by the Polish‑Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the 19th century, Ukraine became part of the Russian Empire, and after the 1917 Russian Revolution it declared independence. However, the independent Ukrainian Republic did not last long and was soon absorbed by the Soviet Union. It was not until 1991 that Ukraine once again declared independence, becoming a sovereign state. Since then, Ukraine has worked to develop its economy and political system while facing military and political pressure from Russia.

In recent years, relations between Ukraine and Russia have deteriorated, especially after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. The Ukrainian government has steadfastly defended its sovereignty and territorial integrity and has sought international support and assistance. Earlier this year, Russia launched a large‑scale military invasion of Ukraine, resulting in significant casualties and property damage. The Ukrainian government and people have been bravely resisting Russian aggression while calling on the international community for increased support.

The international community has closely monitored Ukraine’s situation and has condemned Russia’s acts of aggression, providing substantial aid and support to Ukraine. Ukraine’s circumstances affect not only its own security and stability but also the security and stability of all of Europe. Therefore, the international community must continue to focus on and support Ukraine, while also seeking long‑term, effective solutions to safeguard Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

For Taiwan, Ukraine’s situation has important implications for regional and global security and stability. As a sovereign nation, Taiwan must pay attention to developments in international affairs and protect its own security and sovereignty. Ukraine’s experience and lessons are also valuable for Taiwan, particularly in facing military and political pressure from the mainland. At the same time, Taiwan must maintain close cooperation and communication with the international community to jointly preserve regional and global security and stability.