Historic first: Brazilian parliament honors Ukraine’s Independence Day, urges recognition of Holodomor as genocide

The National Congress of Brazil for the first time in history officially marked Ukraine’s Independence Day with a ceremonial session on Aug. 25, according to Diplomacia Business.

The initiative was led by Paulo Bilynskyj, a lawmaker of Ukrainian descent, and brought together senior political, diplomatic, and community leaders. 

Among them were Roberto André Oresten, the President of the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation, Andrii Borodenkov, the Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine in Brazil, Bishop Ricardo Hoepers, the General Secretary of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, and Cláudio Schooder, the mayor of Nova Odessa.

They, including  Bilynskyj and Oresten, highlighted the deep historical roots of Ukrainian immigration in Brazil and urged Congress to officially recognize the Holodomor of 1932–1933 as genocide against the Ukrainian people.

“Ukraine stands strong thanks to the courage of its people and the support of friendly nations,” Borodenkov said in his address, praising Brazil’s Ukrainian community and the international coalition backing Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression.

At the event, the city of Nova Odessa in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, which was founded in honor of the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, announced the establishment of sister city relations with Ukraine’s Odesa.