Defender of the Fatherland Day
Defender of the Fatherland Day ( "Den' zashchitnika Otechestva"); ; ; ; ) is a holiday observed in Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. It is celebrated on 23 February, except in Kazakhstan, where it is celebrated on 7 May. In Russia and Belarus, it is a federal holiday and, usually, an off-day. Ukraine abolished the holiday starting 1992 (although its Russophone population still commemorates the Soviet Army legacy to this day) and, after the Revolution of Dignity, has instated the somewhat similar Defender of Ukraine Day on 14 October.