The interview of the head of the Ukrainian delegation, deputy URC Hetman, Cossack marshal Valery Mikheev for the Estonian television

At the end of June in Johvi, a city located in the northeast of Estonia, there were carried out the celebrations on occasion of the Victory Day of Estonian people in the Emancipating War in 1918 - 1920. Delegation of the Ukrainian Public Organization “Ukrainian Registered Cossacks” headed by the first deputy, nakaznoy hetman, Cossack marshal Valery Mikheev took for the first time part in parade and celebrating.

Parade on occasion of the Victory Day in Johvi is carried out annually and always with participation of guests from other countries. This year in parade took part not only the Ukrainian Cossacks but also representatives of the Finnish reservists organization.

Parade devoted to the Victory Day

Military men of the Virusky separate rifle battalion, members of Alataguzesky team Kaitseliit (the Estonian militarized voluntary patriotic organization), children's and women’s divisions Kaitseliit, policemen and frontier guards took part in the military parade. After the parade the Ukrainian delegation under the direction of nakaznoy hetman Valery Mikheev and ataman of the Estonian organization Andrey Gritskov laid solemnly a mourning wreath to a monument of the soldiers who fallen during the Emancipating War in 1918 - 1920.

It was very pleasant for many Ukrainians in Estonia to see the national flag of Ukraine near to a flag of their native land, Estonia, on this day in the news and photo reports.

Journalists of the Estonian mass-media asked ataman of the Estonian Cossack Organization of the Ukrainian Registered Cossacks Andrey Gritskov to explain the symbolical sense of participation of the Ukrainian Cossacks in this feast in Estonia: “Modern Ukrainian Registered Cossacks came in Ida-Virumaa on the Kaitseliit invitation. The reason is that Kaitseliit (the Estonian national home guard) was based by General Johannes Orasmaa who in 1918 served in the Ukrainian army, achieved a rank of the colonel, came back to Estonia and created the organization - Kaitseliit. Kaitseliit structure was created like the Ukrainian Cossacks. And this invitation is a historical tribute to Kaitseliit their colleagues, the Ukrainian Cossacks”.

Deputy Hetman of the Ukrainian Registered Cossacks Valery Mikheev and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in Estonia Pavel Kiryakov

Cossack Marshal Valery Mikheev congratulated participants of the celebrations on behalf of URC Hetman Anatoliy Shevchenko and said, he hope that cooperation between Cossacks and Kaitseliit will be fruitful.

V. Mikheev said that patriotism and spirituality are important in a modern society. As he said, Ukrainians who lives in Estonia should be, first of all, patriots of Estonia.

The Ukrainian Cossacks are interested in cooperation with Kaitseliit, it will be a good experience for the voluntary patriotic organization for the good of society and native land.

The informal way communication provided the representatives of the Ukrainian Cossacks and Kaitseliit to speak more frankly, to understand that they had much in common. For example, many officers of the elder generation of modern Estonian army and Kaitseliit received military education in Ukraine. And there was no wonder, that the favorite song of Ukrainians and Estonians was the well-known “Reve ta stogne Dnipr shiroky” on verses of the classic of Ukrainian literature Taras Shevchenko.

Deputy Hetman of the Ukrainian Registered Cossacks Valery Mikheev with the deputy parliament, head of the commission on relations with Ukraine Silver Meykaru

Many Estonian colleagues had awards of the liquidator of accident at the Chernobyl nuclear station. They remembered also about difficult times when Ukraine and Estonia struggled for independence.

Next day the URC delegation visited the Puhtitsa Uspensky female monastery where they presented the book of Hetman A. Shevchenko and booklets about Cossacks activity to its hegumene Varvara. And hegumene presented them the icons with pieces of a sacred oak. Then there was held the meeting with representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora in the city of Sillamae. After the solemn consecration ceremony into Cossacks and Bereguinias there was a concert.

On June, 25 in Tallinn the URC delegation was welcomed by the Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine in the Estonian republic Paul Kiriakov. During the meeting there were discussed questions about close cooperation of Estonia and Ukraine on arena of the European Union and helping each other.

Then the delegation visited the parliament of Estonia where the meeting with the deputy of parliament, the chairman of the parliamentary commission on friendship between Estonia with Ukraine Silver Meikar took place. URC representatives and parliament of Estonia discussed some question and perspective directions which are necessary for preservation and development of the Ukrainian culture in Estonia and to make the URC slogan “Spirituality and patriotism” true.

There was also held the meeting with members of the Association of the Ukrainian organizations in Estonia, they made plans for the Ukrainian culture popularization and preservation of traditions and Ukrainian language in Estonia.

The URC delegation was also welcomed by the Tallinn Ukrainian Diaspora. Nakaznoy hetman V. Mikheev took an oath of the Tallinn Cossacks and Bereguinias. Evening ended with the Ukrainian songs and Cossack kulesh.