"Ukraine stands thanks to its warriors": Zelenskyi greets defenders on national holiday
Illustrative photo
On Ukraine's Defenders Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyi expressed gratitude to all soldiers and commanders safeguarding Ukrainian values, the nation's right to exist as an independent state, and its future.
The head of state addressed the nation via a video message recorded from a frontline command post, as reported by the President's Office and Rubryka.
"Right here – on a wooden floor, among camouflage nets, of course, among our patches and our flags – in places like this, without exaggeration, the fate of Ukraine, Europe, and the free world is being decided. This is where independence is won. And the path to peace runs through these very labyrinths, these very corridors. And when we say, "Ukraine is holding on," this resilience begins right here at the front, in command posts like this and at every one of our positions – where Ukraine is – because Ukraine has defenders. It has our warriors. The people who turn places like this into places of our true strength, Ukrainian strength," Zelenskyi emphasized.
The president noted that today marks the 1,681st day of the full-scale war. He stressed that despite relentless attacks and suffering, Ukraine continues to resist, neutralize occupying forces, and achieve its strategic objectives.
"Despite the attacks, the strikes, the pain, Ukraine is holding on, destroying the occupier, and achieving what Ukraine needs – all of this is thanks to our defenders holding on. I thank you – everyone who is defending our life, defending our values, Ukraine's right to exist, and the future of our entire beautiful state. I thank everyone who wears a patch on their shoulder, and on whose shoulders rests our independence," the president stated.
Zelenskyi extended specific gratitude to those wearing military insignia and defending Ukraine's independence, honoring the infantry, airborne troops, intelligence personnel, air defense forces, combat aviation, naval forces, artillery, signal corps, engineers, as well as service members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Special Operations Forces, the National Guard, Ukraine's Security Service, the police, and border guards.
"We are grateful to all of you, proud of everyone, and deeply value all our security and defense forces," the head of state emphasized.
Zelenskyi individually recognized key combat commanders, including:
- Yevhenii Khmara
- Mykhailo Drapatyi
- Pavlo Palisa
- Denys Prokopenko
- Andrii Biletskyi
- Emil Ishkulov
- Oleh Apostol
- Valerii Skred
- Ihor Obolenskyi.
The president also thanked hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers standing as a shield to ensure Ukraine remains their home, while honoring the memory of fallen heroes.
"In the military, they know well the words of the warrior and poet Maksym Kryvtsov: 'When they ask me what war is, I will answer without hesitation: names.'
Vitalii Skakun, Da Vinci, Nazarii Hryntsevych – Grenka, Juice, Andrii Verkhohliad, Iryna Tsybukh, Petrychenko, Oleksandr Matsievskyi – and many other names of this war. And every Ukrainian family, every one of us, has names just like these – names you truly want to remember and mourn, names you are proud of and grateful to. All of this is about our heroes who gave their lives so that Ukraine could live. We remember every one of them," the president noted.
He highlighted that every Ukrainian family holds names remembered with grief, pride, and eternal gratitude.
Addressing active service members, Zelenskyi congratulated all military personnel defending the nation, expressing deep respect and appreciation.
"We congratulate you—every man and woman defending Ukraine. With gratitude and respect to all our defenders, we state the most important thing today: Glory to you! Glory to Ukraine!" the head of state concluded.
Background
On October 1, Ukraine celebrates Defenders Day alongside Cossack Day and the Christian feast of the Protection of the Holy Virgin (Pokrova), as well as Veterans Day.
For twelve years, the feast of Pokrova has officially coincided with Defenders Day. Following Ukraine's church calendar reform, the religious holiday moved to October 1 (formerly October 14), carrying deep significance for the Ukrainian military.
Historically, Ukraine observed the Soviet-era "Defender of the Fatherland Day" on February 23.
However, following the 2014 annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine, the feast of Pokrova assumed renewed national importance as Ukraine pursued European integration, de-communization, and the establishment of a strong sovereign military.
In October 2014, a presidential decree officially established Ukraine's Defenders of Day on October 14.
By 2015, the date became an official state holiday. In August 2021, at the initiative of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, Parliament renamed the holiday "Day of Male and Female Defenders of Ukraine" to ensure gender inclusivity and honor female service members.
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