Ukraine is marking its 11th anniversary of independence on Saturday in a solemn mood after last month's string of accidents which claimed more than 100 lives.

The annual military parade is being held without the traditional show of hardware, and no celebratory speeches are scheduled as the country tries to live down its image of the world's most disaster-prone.

To the majority, this is an anniversary of missed opportunities

Vecherniye Vesti

In July alone, 61 people died in three mine accidents and 76 were killed at an air show when a fighter jet crashed into a crowd of spectators.

The national press sees these events as tragic symbols of the mismanagement and corruption that have plagued Ukraine since the Soviet Union fell apart.

Missed opportunity

"How can one begin to think of parades, galas, dancing and street parties with people dying almost daily in tragedies caused by an elementary lack of money to ensure safe living and work?" the conservative daily Den asks.

The paper doubts the celebrations will mean anything to ordinary Ukrainians.

"Everybody knows that independence came as a surprise to most. There were no heroic battles to remember in August 1991. There is no such thing as the public memory of 24 August 1991."

According to the opposition paper Vecherniye Vesti, unlike its Eastern European neighbours Ukraine failed to take advantage of the fall of the USSR 11 years ago.

Air show tragedy has shocked the nation

"To the majority, this is an anniversary of missed opportunities," it says, adding that both the first president, Leonid Kravchuk, and the incumbent, Leonid Kuchma, have deep roots in the old Communist elite.

"All the former Communist leaders remained in power, while the democrats, with no experience, connections or means of influence, soon ended up on the sidelines of the country's political life."

Opposition

The opposition wants to change all this and plans to mount one of its biggest protests ever in September. But the country's leaders are warning this can only make matters worse.

"We cannot continue living in a conflict environment. Ukrainian politics must cease being a thriller, and Ukraine's future must be decided through legislation," parliamentary speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn has told the parliament newspaper, Holos Ukrayiny.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Volodymyr Semynozhenko is adamant that the country has come a long way, despite the recent setbacks.

The hungry and the poor are choking on the words of the national anthem

Ukrayina Moloda

"Today's Ukraine is much more confident than a few years ago. Both the political elite and the people have matured significantly," he says in an interview for Den.

"We are no longer content with mere economic stability. We are setting new, ambitious targets in the country's development. One is our European choice."

To the press, the message rings hollow.

"The true meaning of sovereignty has drowned in the sea of token Cossacks, showy parades and award ceremonies," says the nationalist Ukrayina Moloda.

"Meanwhile, the hungry and the poor are choking on the words of the national anthem, 'Ukraine is not dead yet'."

Den agrees: "Across the country, the only reminder of independence are the national colours on official buildings and vehicle license plates."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.