Naval Infantry Day is observed in Ukraine every May 23, celebrating the contributions of the Ukrainian Naval Infantry and honoring those who have died in service. Established by acting President Oleksandr Turchynov in March 2014, the holiday aims to revive and develop national military traditions, recognizing the vital role of the Naval Infantry in national defense. The Ukrainian Naval Infantry was first formed in 1918 under Hetman Pavlo Skoropadskiy, primarily to protect coastal areas, but it ceased to exist when Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union. The modern iteration was created in February 1992 when the 880th Separate Naval Infantry Battalion of the Black Sea Fleet pledged allegiance to Ukraine, with the first battalion officially formed in Sevastopol in 1993. The day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the War in Donbass.