Khomchak stressed the infinite readiness of Ukrainians to defend their homeland

On the day of the 80th anniversary of the war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union beginning, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ruslan Khomchak noted the infinite readiness of Ukrainians to defend their homeland.

This is stated in the address of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Ruslan Khomchak on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance and Sorrow, Rubryka reports.

"Sunday morning, June 22, 1941, entered the lives of millions of Ukrainians with a tragic page. On this day, the new bloodiest stage of World War II began, the German-Soviet war, which took the lives of every fifth citizen(…) 7 years ago, in 2014, the insidious Russian enemy temporarily occupied the Crimean peninsula and started a war in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. Like our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, we were forced to take up arms and start a new struggle for the independence of our state. The will for freedom and readiness to defend our homeland is a feature of all generations of Ukrainians. As in the past bloody century,  today we also stand guard over peace and serenity," he said.

According to Khomchak, 80 years ago on this day "hell broke loose" for Ukrainians. Now, on June 22, the Ukrainian people are honoring the memory of millions of compatriots whose lives were cut short by the war.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stressed that the hostilities of the Second World War on the territory of Ukraine lasted from June 22, 1941, to the end of November 1944. From July 22 to December 18, 1942, the territory of Ukraine was completely occupied by the troops of Germany and its allies.

"This day reminds us of all those killed in battles, tortured in Nazi captivity, who died in the rear from starvation and persecution. And we honor the memory of the sons and daughters of the Ukrainian people, their feat and sacrifice," Khomchak said.

"Our task is to preserve the memory of those who survived and those who fell victim to both bloody totalitarian systems," he added.