Ukrainian people presented with The Atlantic Council's For outstanding leadership award
Photo: OPU
President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked for the award to the Ukrainian people
Rubryka reports, referring to the Office of the President of Ukraine press service.
The head of state spoke at the presentation of The Atlantic Council Award "For Outstanding Leadership."
"On behalf of all Ukrainians, I thank you for this award.
Awarding all the Ukrainian people is right and fair because bravery is our national character trait.
Today, the entire world sees this and admires the heroism of Ukrainians. At the same time, I want it not to become something ordinary for everyone.
To do this, we must say and remember that behind the courage and wisdom of our people, there are thousands of real stories, names, feats," said the President.
Zelensky mentioned the heroes-defenders:
- Vitalii Skakun, who blew up a bridge with him to stop a column of russian tanks,
- 21-year-old lieutenant Vitalii Sapil, who destroyed 30 units of enemy equipment and died in an airstrike,
- Serhii Panteliuk, who, while repelling the offensive, was wounded and died in hospital at the time of the birth of his first child, a daughter,
- border guards of Zmiinyi Island, who were not afraid of the flagship Moscow cruiser of the russian fleet,
- indomitable defenders of Mariupol and Azovstal, who have been holding the fort for several months.
People who spare no efforts for others:
- combat medic Diana Kukurudzianyk, who pulled 16 wounded soldiers off the battlefield in one day,
- paramedic Serhii Chornobryvets in Mariupol, who has been on duty for 22 days since the beginning of the war.
About brave children:
- 11-year-old Maksym, who didn't say anything to his mother, ran away from home and begged to be accepted to territorial defense,
- 7-year-old Varia from Kropyvnytskyi, who gave away money for bulletproof vests, which she had saved on her smartphone, and then sold flowers and drawings,
- A 15-year-old girl from the Luhansk region, who was driving a car with shot legs and took out 4 wounded,
- A 15-year-old boy, who carried his wounded mother in his arms for 3 km to the evacuation point.
Zelensky spoke about the businesses, which quickly shifted to the needs of the country: sewing uniforms for the military, preparing free lunches and baking bread for migrants, a university professor who defends the country and continues to lecture students in the trenches, a violinist who plays for people during air alarm in the bomb shelter.
About the civilians of the villages who are becoming a living wall against russian tanks, about the people who flooded their own village to keep the occupiers out, about the people who go to peaceful rallies, despite the shots of the invaders.
"Don't be afraid and come to Ukraine and you will hear thousands of similar stories about us, about Ukrainians, look into their brave eyes, shake their strong hands and see that they are doing all this not for glory, that they need not only awards but concrete help and support: weapons, equipment, funds, sanctions against russia," Zelensky stressed.
"And the main thing is the feeling that they're not alone in this difficult struggle, that the entire world supports them. Thank you for the award and welcome to Ukraine," the President concluded.
