The police asked activists to stay away from driveway at Paton Bridge in order to maintain security

Open source

Members of the holiday procession timed to the Unity Day in Ukraine formed the live chain across Paton Bridge in Kyiv. They also unfurled a huge state flag, a correspondent of 112 Ukraine TV channel said.

‘The live chain, a symbol of unity of independent Ukraine, is observed on the bridge. The participants carried the huge flag and sang the national anthem and other patriotic songs. The law enforcers asked the participants to stay away from the bridge’s driveway since the traffic is quite intensive,’ the reporter said.

On January 22, Ukrainians celebrate the Day of the National Unity. 99 years ago on this day, the-then Ukrainian People's Republic and Western Ukrainian People's Republic united, based on the respective Act of Unity. The Act was declared at Sofiyska Square in Kyiv.

On this day, many Ukrainians join the live chain across Dnieper river, holding hands so as to symbolize the nation's integrity; the tradition dates back to 1990, when the event took place for the first time; that was one of the most memorable pages of the Ukrainian history. Currently, similar actions take place in other Ukrainian cities, divided into two banks by the Dnieper.

The holiday was granted official status by the presidential decree in 1999.