On August 24, 2016, Ukrainians celebrated the 25th anniversary of Independence of Ukraine.

Festive Day in Odessa was started with laying flowers at the monument to Taras Shevchenko in the park with the same title.

The ceremony was attended by the mayor of Odessa Gennadiy Trukhanov, authorities of Odessa regional and city councils, representatives of regional state administration and district municipal administrations, deputies, representatives of accredited diplomatic missions in Odessa, soldiers of various branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, members of ATO, veterans, clergy and public.