#LUHANSHYNA_88
"I am very jealous of the heads of the regions - they can go to their communities and see their cultural heritage. But today, the residents of our region presented a holiday that proves that the Ukrainian Luhansk region lives - it is where its people are. Such events need to be scaled up so that people know that there are real Ukrainians in the Luhansk region: there were, are and will be. We must preserve our own culture," said the head of the Luhansk region, Oleksiy Kharchenko, to the people of Luhansk who gathered at the National Museum of Folk Architecture and Life "Pyrogovo" to celebrate the 88th anniversary of the formation of the region.
The Head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, Mykola Kalashnyk, who became the guest of honor at the celebration, was impressed by how Luhansk residents preserve their identity and assured that he would support such events.
The head of the Luhansk Eparchy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Archbishop Lavrenty (Mygovich) of Luhansk and Starobilsk, also addressed those present.
Performances by artists of the Luhansk Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater and creative collectives of the region's communities were included in the festive concert program as part of the regional festival "Luhansk Region is Ukraine."
In a solemn atmosphere, Oleksiy Kharchenko signed the "Manifesto for Preservation of the Local Identity of Luhansk Region" - an appeal to the heads of the regions and communities of Ukraine, civil society, all Luhansk residents, and all Ukrainians.
In particular, the leaders of the regions that have welcomed residents of the Luhansk region into their communities were called upon to take responsibility for integrating the cultural practices of the Luhansk region into local events; supporting Luhansk residents as bearers of identity, not as recipients of aid; forming twinning ties between communities; supporting language, cultural and educational initiatives; working with the diaspora and displaced persons. The text of the Manifesto can be found at the link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1erg3tqd5FnhVAtuu5Jvl-MHRouAxJibu/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104530730172128992833&rtpof=true&sd=true
All community leaders of the Luhansk region joined in signing the Manifesto.
The Head of the Regional State Administration presented state awards: the Order "For Courage" of the 3rd degree to Yuriy Kulychenko, a participant in the hostilities; the Order of Princess Olga of the 3rd degree to Marina Bahrintseva, head of the department of the Siverskodonetsk City Military Administration.
Honorary titles were awarded: “Honored Worker of Education” – to Lyubov Bondar, methodologist of the department of the Luhansk Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education, “Honored Artist of Ukraine” – to Andriy Romanchenko, chief artist of the Luhansk Regional Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater.
The gratitude of the Ministry of Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine was received by the employees of the municipal enterprise "Lysychansk Housing and Maintenance Office No. 5", who work on the construction of fortification structures: Artem Volkov and Dmytro Chornozhukov.
The badge "For contributing to the revival of the Luhansk region" was awarded to Igor Bondarenko, co-founder of AGK Ukraine LLC, member of the Council for Entrepreneurship Support under the President of Ukraine.
Seven representatives of the Defense Forces received the badges of honor "Defender of Luhansk Region" from the hands of the regional head, and the Honorary Award of the Chairman of the Defense Council of the Luhansk Region "For Merit to the Luhansk Region" was awarded to Mykola Barannik, a lecturer at the Department of Olympic and Professional Sports, Faculty of Health and Sports, Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University.
Another 12 people who have made significant achievements in their communities received Certificates of Honor and Letters of Gratitude from the regional state administration.
