The March of Ukrainian Nationalists is a Ukrainian patriotic song that was the official anthem of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. The song is also known by its first line "We were born in a great hour" (). The song, written by to music by in 1929, was officially adopted by the leadership of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists in 1932. The song is often referred to as a patriotic song from the times of the uprising, and a Ukrainian folk song.
It is still commonly performed today, especially at events honoring the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and by nationalist organisations and party meetings, such as those of VO Svoboda.
In 1919, with the end of the PolishâÂÂUkrainian War, which resulted in the takeover of western Ukraine by the Second Polish Republic, many former leaders of the Ukrainian republic were exiled. As Polish persecution of Ukrainians during the interwar period increased, many Ukrainians (particularly the youth, many of whom felt they had no future) lost faith in traditional legal approaches, in their elders, and in the western democracies who were seen as turning their backs on Ukraine. This period of disillusionment coincided with the increase in support for the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). By the beginning of the Second World War, the OUN was estimated to have 20,000 active members and many times that number in sympathizers. The song was written in 1929 during the midst of these political events and adopted by the organisation's leadership 3 years later.
The March of the Ukrainian Nationalists is written and performed as a military march and a . The first verse of the song refers to "the pain of losing Ukraine", referring to the short-lived independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic from 1917-1921. The republic was divided up among the Soviet Union and the Second Polish Republic. The song also mentions a popular Ukrainian national motto, "A United Ukrainian state... from the San to the Caucasus". This is in line with the Ukrainian irredentist concept of having Ukraine's western border start at the San river in modern-day in western Ukraine and southeastern Poland and its eastern border at the Caucasus Mountains in modern-day southern Russia.
ÃÂÃÂþôøûøÃÂàüø òõûøúþàóþôøýø, <br />àÿþöõö òÃÂùýø, ÃÂ÷ ÿþûÃÂü'àòþóýÃÂò, <br />ÃÂûõúðò ýðàñÃÂûàÿþ òÃÂÃÂðÃÂàãúÃÂðÃÂýø, <br />ÃÂþÃÂüøò ýðàóýÃÂò à÷ûÃÂÃÂÃÂàýð òþÃÂþóÃÂò.
àüø ùôõüþ ò ñþàöøÃÂÃÂÃÂòþüÃÂ, <br />âòõÃÂôÃÂ, üÃÂÃÂýÃÂ, ýõ÷ûðüýàüþò óÃÂðýÃÂÃÂ, <br />ÃÂþ ÿûðàýõ ôðò ÃÂòþñþôø ÃÂõ ýÃÂúþüÃÂ, <br />ààÃÂþ ñþÃÂõÃÂàâ ÃÂþù ÷ôþñÃÂòðàÃÂòÃÂÃÂ.
ÃÂõ àþÃÂõüþ ýàÃÂûðòø ýà÷ðÿûðÃÂø. <br />ÃÂðÿûðÃÂa ýðü ÃÂõ ÃÂðôÃÂÃÂÃÂàò ñþÃÂþÃÂÃÂñÃÂ! <br />áþûþôÃÂõ ýðü àñþàÃÂüøÃÂðÃÂø, <br />ÃÂú öøÃÂø ò ÿÃÂÃÂðà, üþò ýÃÂüàÃÂðñø.
ÃÂþòþûàýðü ÃÂÃÂÃÂýø àýõ÷óþôø, <br />ÃÂõ ÃÂüÃÂàñÃÂðàýð ñÃÂðÃÂð ùÃÂø àñÃÂù! <br />ÃÂÃÂô ÃÂøýÃÂþ-öþòÃÂøü ÿÃÂðÿþÃÂþü ÃÂòþñþôø <br />ÃÂ'ÃÂôýðÃÂü òõÃÂàòõûøúøù ýðÃÂÃÂô ÃÂòÃÂù.
ÃÂõûøúàÿÃÂðòôàâ ôûàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂôøýÃÂ, <br />ÃÂðàóþÃÂôøù úûøàýðÃÂþôþòàýõÃÂõ! <br />ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂø÷ýàÃÂø ñÃÂôàòÃÂÃÂýøù ôþ ÷ðóøýÃÂ, <br />ÃÂðü ãúÃÂðÃÂýð òøÃÂõ ÿþýðô òÃÂõ!
ÃÂõôõ ýðàò ñÃÂù ñþÃÂÃÂÃÂò ÃÂÿðòÃÂøàÃÂûðòð. <br />ÃÂûàýðà÷ðúþý ýðùòøÃÂøù â ÃÂþ ýðúð÷: <br />"áþñþÃÂýð ãúÃÂðÃÂýÃÂÃÂúðàôõÃÂöðòð â <br />ÃÂÃÂûÃÂýð ù üÃÂÃÂýð, òÃÂô áÃÂýàÿþ ÃÂðòúð÷".
Zrodylyà  my velykoi hodyny, <br />Z poà ¾eà ¾ vijny, iz polumja vohniv, <br />Plekav nas biþ po vtrati Ukrainy, <br />Kormyv nas hniv i zlisà ¥ na vorohiv.
I my jdemo v boju à ¾yttievomu, <br />Tverdi, micni, nezlamni mov hranit, <br />Bo plaàne dav svobody à ¡ÃÂe nikomu, <br />A chto boreàâ toj zdobuvaje svit.
Ne choÃÂemo ni slavy ni zaplaty. <br />Zaplata nam ce radisà ¥ v boroà ¥bi! <br />Solodà ¡e nam u boju umyraty, <br />jak à ¾yty v putach, mov nimi raby.
Dovoli nam ruiny i nezhody, <br />Ne smije brat na brata jty u bij! <br />Pid synio-à ¾ovtym praporom svobody <br />Zjednajem veà  velykyj narid svij.
Velyku pravdu â dlia usich jedynu, <br />Naà ¡ hordyj klyànarodovi nese! <br />VitÃÂyzni ty buàvirnyj do zahynu, <br />Nam Ukraina vyà ¡ÃÂe ponad vse!
Vede nas v bij borciv upavà ¡ych slava. <br />Dlia nas zakon najvyà ¡ÃÂyj â to nakaz: <br />âÂÂSoborna Ukrainà Âkaja derà ¾ava â <br />Viþna j micna, vid Sianu po KavkazâÂÂ.
We were born in a great hour, <br />From the fires of war, and the flames of gunshots, <br />We were nurtured by the pain of losing Ukraine, <br />We were fed by anger and malice to our enemies.
And here we walk in the battle of lifeâ <br />Solid, durable, unbreakable, like granite, <br />For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet, <br />But whoever is a fighter, he conquers the world.
We want neither glory, nor payment. <br />Payment for us is the luxury of fighting! <br />It is sweeter for us to die in battle, <br />Than to live in bondage, as mute slaves.
Enough of ruins and disagreements for us, <br />A brother will not dare to go to war against a brother! <br />Under the blue-yellow flag of freedom <br />We will unite all of our great people.
A united nation one for us all is that one truth <br />This is our proud call to all people: <br />Be faithful to your homeland until death, <br />For us, Ukraine is above all else!
The glory of fallen fighters leads us into battle, <br />The law is the highest order we shall fulfil: <br />"Towards a free and united Ukrainian nation, <br />Free and strong, from the San to the Caucasus"!
The March of the New Army () is a modernized adaptation of the song that is used as a Ukrainian military march as well as a patriotic song with nationalist overtones. A modern text was adopted in 2017 at the initiative of Oleh Skrypka, lead singer of the Ukrainian rock band Vopli Vidopliassova. The new text honors the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who fought and died in the Anti-Terrorist Operation Zone during the War in Donbas. According to Skrypka, the text was conceived while at the front visiting a volunteer unit.
The new march was presented for the first time in early 2017 on the eve of the Ukrainian Volunteer Day, and was performed by Skrypka in cooperation with the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On August 24, 2018, the modern version of the song was performed the first time at the Kyiv Independence Day Parade dedicated to the 27th anniversary of independence and the 100th anniversary of the UPR. In his opening address at the parade, President Petro Poroshenko sang an excerpt of the song, describing it as one that "symbolizes the inextricable bond between different generations of fighters for freedom of the homeland."
ÃÂÃÂþôøûøÃÂàüø òõûøúþàóþôøýø, <br />àÿþöõö òÃÂùýø àÿþûÃÂü'àòþóýÃÂò. <br />ÃÂûõúðò ýðàñÃÂûà÷ð ôþûàãúÃÂðÃÂýø, <br />ÃÂÃÂþÃÂÃÂøò ýðàóýÃÂò àûÃÂÃÂàýð òþÃÂþóÃÂò.
ÃÂø ùôõüþ ò ñÃÂù ÿõÃÂõüþöýøü àþôþü, <br />âòõÃÂôàù üÃÂÃÂýÃÂ, ýõ÷ûðüýàüþò óÃÂðýÃÂÃÂ, <br />ÃÂþ ÿûðàýõ ôðò ýÃÂúþüàÃÂõ ÃÂòþñþôø, <br />ÃÂ¥ÃÂþ ñþÃÂõÃÂÃÂ, ÃÂþù ÷ôþñÃÂòðàÃÂòÃÂÃÂ.
ÃÂõûøúàÃÂÃÂÃÂàôûàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂôøýÃÂ, <br />ÃÂðàóþÃÂôøù úûøàýðÃÂþôþòàýõÃÂõ <br />ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂø÷ýàñÃÂôàÃÂø òÃÂÃÂýøù ñõ÷ ÃÂÿøýà<br />ÃÂðü ãúÃÂðÃÂýð òøÃÂõ ÿþýðô òÃÂõ!
ÃÂõôõ ýðàò ñÃÂù óõÃÂþÃÂò ýðÃÂøàÃÂûðòð. <br />ÃÂûàýðà÷ðúþý ýðùòøÃÂøù ÃÂþ ýðúð÷: <br />ëáþñþÃÂýð ãúÃÂðÃÂýÃÂÃÂúð àôõÃÂöðòð â <br />ÃÂôýð ýðòÃÂú: òÃÂô áÃÂýàÿþ ÃÂðòúð÷!û
Zrodylyà  my velykoi hodyny, <br />Z poà ¾eà ¾ vijny i polumja vohniv. <br />Plekav nas biþ za doliu Ukrainy, <br />Zrostyv nas hniv i liuà ¥ na vorohiv.
My jdemo v bij peremoà ¾nym chodom, <br />Tverdi j mücni, nezlamni mov hranit, <br />Bo plaàne dav nikomu à ¡ÃÂe svobody, <br />Chto boreÃÂ, toj zdobuvaje svit.
Velyku suà ¥ dlia usich jedynu, <br />Naà ¡ hordyj klyànarodovi nese <br />VitÃÂyzni buàty virnyj bez upynu <br />Nam Ukraina vyà ¡ÃÂe ponad vse!
Vede nas v bij heroiv naà ¡ych slava. <br />Dlia nas zakon najvyà ¡ÃÂyj to nakaz: <br />âÂÂSoborna Ukrainà Âka je derà ¾ava â <br />Odna navik: vid Sianu po Kavkaz!âÂÂ
We were born in a great hour, <br />From the fires of war, and the flames of fire, <br />We were nurtured for the fate of Ukraine, <br />We arose with anger and rage against enemies.
We go into battle with a triumphant march, <br />Solid, strong, unbreakable, like granite, <br />For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet, <br />Whoever is a fighter, thus gains the world.
The great essence for all is uniform, <br />Our proud call to the people now resounds: <br />"Be faithful without cease to the Fatherland, <br />For us, Ukraine is above all else"!
Let the glory of our heroes lead us to battle, <br />And may this highest order we shall fulfil: <br />"Towards the independent Ukrainian nation, <br />Stronger forever, from the San up to the Caucasus!"
When this song was used at the 2018 Independence Day parade, slightly different lyrics were used.
ÃÂÃÂþôøûøÃÂàüø òõûøúþàóþôøýø, <br />àÿþöõö òÃÂùýø àÿþûÃÂüâÂÂàòþóýÃÂò. <br />ÃÂûõúðò ýðàñÃÂûà÷ð ôþûàãúÃÂðÃÂýø, <br />ÃÂÃÂþÃÂÃÂøò ýðàóýÃÂò àûÃÂÃÂàýð òþÃÂþóÃÂò.
ÃÂø ùôõüþ ò ñÃÂù ÿõÃÂõüþöýøü àþôþü, <br />âòõÃÂôàù üÃÂÃÂýÃÂ, ýõ÷ûðüýàüþò óÃÂðýÃÂÃÂ, <br />ÃÂþ ÿûðàýõ ôðò ýÃÂúþüàÃÂõ ÃÂòþñþôø, <br />ààÃÂþ ñþÃÂõÃÂÃÂ, ÃÂþù ÷ôþñÃÂòðàÃÂòÃÂÃÂ.
ÃÂõûøúàÿÃÂðòôàôûàÃÂÃÂÃÂàÃÂôøýÃÂ, <br />ÃÂðàóþÃÂôøù úûøàýðÃÂþôþòàýõÃÂõ <br />ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂø÷ýàñÃÂôàÃÂø òÃÂÃÂýøù ôþ ÷ðóøýà<br />ÃÂðü ãúÃÂðÃÂýð òøÃÂõ ÿþýðô òÃÂõ!
ÃÂõôõ ýðàò ñÃÂù óõÃÂþÃÂò ýðÃÂøàÃÂûðòð. <br />ÃÂûàýðà÷ðúþý ýðùòøÃÂøù ÃÂþ ýðúð÷: <br />ëáþñþÃÂýð ãúÃÂðÃÂýÃÂÃÂúð àôõÃÂöðòð â <br />ÃÂôýð ýðòÃÂú: òþýð ò ÃÂõÃÂÃÂÃÂààýðÃÂ!û
Zrodylyà  my velykoi hodyny, <br />Z poà ¾eà ¾ vijny i polumja vohniv. <br />Plekav nas biþ za doliu Ukrainy, <br />Zrostyv nas hniv i liuà ¥ na vorohiv.
My jdemo v bij peremoà ¾nym chodom, <br />Tverdi j micni, nezlamni mov hranit, <br />Bo plaàne dav nikomu à ¡ÃÂe svobody, <br />A chto boreÃÂ, toj zdobuvaje svit.
Velyku pravdu dlia usich jedynu, <br />Naà ¡ hordyj klyànarodovi nese <br />VitÃÂyzni buàty virnyj do zahynu <br />Nam Ukraina vyà ¡ÃÂe ponad vse!
Vede nas v bij heroiv naà ¡ych slava. <br />Dlia nas zakon najvyà ¡ÃÂyj to nakaz: <br />âÂÂSoborna Ukrainà Âka je derà ¾ava â <br />Odna navik: vona v serciach u nas!âÂÂ
We were born in the great hour, <br />From the fires of war, and the flames of fire, <br />We were nurtured for the fate of Ukraine, <br />We arose with anger and rage against enemies.
We go into battle with a triumphant march, <br />Solid, strong, unbreakable, like granite, <br />For crying hasn't given freedom to anyone yet, <br />But whoever is a fighter, he gains the world.
The great truth for all is uniform, <br />Our proud call to the people brings: <br />"Be faithful to your Fatherland unto death, <br />For us, Ukraine is above all else"!
Glory of our heroes leads us to battle, <br />And this highest order may we shall fulfil: <br />"For an independent Ukrainian nation, <br />United forever, it is in our hearts!"