The Kyiv Independence Day Parade (Ukrainian: Парад в Києві на честь Дня Незалежності України) has been the main event of various celebrations of the Independence Day of Ukraine, which is celebrated annually in Kyiv on August 24.

A large-scale aviation show on Independence Day took place at Kyiv Chaika Airfield in 1997, featuring flypasts by personnel of the Ukrainian Air Force.

Also first time as official title performed the march «Kozatska slava» (Viktor Lisovol [uk]).

Thirty-five planes, including bombers, attack aircraft and combat helicopters flew over the capital during the parade.

The capital was lined up with 50 pieces of military equipment, including new models of the BTR-3E and the "Wasp" anti-aircraft gun.

More than a thousand troops from the Armed Forces, Interior Ministry and State Border Service took part in the parade.

Fourteen units carried battle flags of honor with the combat banner "For courage and bravery".

[15] Many changes took place in the musical accompaniment, particularly when the German made Unter dem Siegesbanner by Franz von Blon accompanied the march of the foreign delegation, as well as when the traditional Red Cranberry & For Ukraine was replaced by the theme from Ukraine (by Taras Petrynenko) as the presidential fanfare.The opening inspection of troops was also accompanied by a new piece of music which was adapted to fit a military march, Zporiz'kyy March by Mykola Lysenko.

[18][19] 4,500 troops participated in the parade, along with 9 formations from NATO allied countries[20][21][22] The Secretary of Defense of the United States, and the Defense ministers of Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Montenegro, Estonia, and the United Kingdom attended the ceremony.

Also, two other units were given honorary titles: Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky, under whose leadership the Cossacks defeated the Tsardom of Russia army near Konotop in 1659.

The new President Volodymyr Zelenskyy refused to hold a military parade,[33] instead which provoked the disagreement of veteran and volunteer organizations.

At the outset, a 30 meter long flag of Ukraine held by soldiers marched first in front a veterans contingent.

[2] Zelensky also stated "We have decided to allocate ₴300 million (nearly $12 million) as bonus payments to our servicemen, i.e. fixed-term soldiers, cadets, sergeants, officers.”[1][2] On Independence Day 2020, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that there should not be military equipment on parade in Kyiv, but on the front line of the War in Donbass "Where it is needed now.

[49][50] The parade was cancelled a third time under Zelenskyy due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russian military, which Independence Day marked six months from the beginning of.

Ukraine's Culture Ministry confirmed there would not be any public celebration to mark the holiday,[51] and officials warned civilians against gathering in major cities due to the high likelihood Russia would target celebrations for shelling, with President Zelenskyy stating "Russia may try to do something particularly nasty, something particularly cruel.

"[52] In substitute to a parade, the remains of numerous Russian military vehicles and artilleries destroyed by Ukrainian troops were displayed along Khreshchatyk.

At 10am the President arrives and personnel of the tri-service Kyiv Presidential Honor Guard Battalion marches in the formation on Independence Square, carrying the Flag of Ukraine to be raised and halts just west of the flagpole to render honors, with the massed bands of the Military Music Directorate of the Armed Forces playing music.

The flag is raised to the National Anthem Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy (either with the massed bands plus optional chorus or a capella) and a 21-gun salute is then fired.

As the vehicles stop upon reaching each battalion and the massed bands pause at the orders of the senior director of music, the Minister then addresses the formations assembled: A threefold Glory!

After the review finishes, the President, upon receiving the concluding report from the Defense Minister (who is a civilian or holding general of the army rank if military), and the parade being ordered to stand at ease, then addresses the nation.

The Prayer for Ukraine is then played afterwards, after which (in recent years) an awards ceremony is held, wherein distinguished servicemen are honored and new colours received by military, police, civil defence and border guard units.