President: Ukrainian rescuers demonstrate fortitude and dedication to our country and people every day
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on their upcoming professional holiday and took part in the awarding ceremony of the Hero - Rescuer of the Year nationwide action.
The Head of State thanked the employees of the State Emergency Service for maintaining the viability of the entire Ukrainian society, cities and villages amid the war unleashed by Russia.
"Eliminating the consequences of Russian shelling, extinguishing fires, rescuing people from under the rubble, demining our Ukrainian land, destroying Russian unexploded ordnance, delivering humanitarian aid to the de-occupied territory, restoring critical infrastructure and networks - all this is your job. All this is everyday life for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President emphasized that the daily work of the State Emergency Service employees resulted in thousands of lives saved, over 100,000 fires extinguished, and over 430,000 explosive devices disarmed.
"Ukrainian invincibility is literally the result of your work, in particular. It is often extremely risky, but heroic, when a bulletproof vest becomes a mandatory element of a rescuer's overalls, when it is necessary to save people, and the shelling continues. When you work in the cities and districts shelled by Russia every day," the Head of State noted.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, 435 Ukrainian rescuers have been awarded state awards, and three SES employees have been awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.
"287 employees of the State Emergency Service were wounded while performing their duties. 80 Ukrainian rescuers were killed," the President said.
The Head of State emphasized that our warriors often do impossible things to chase away the occupiers and bring the Ukrainian victory closer.
"This heroism at the front should be based on the dedication and focus of people in the rear. Everyone who works for the sake of our country. Those whose profession is to save and help, and those who feel life in such a way, respect life so much that they become the rescuers of other lives," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President emphasized that today the bravery of not only professional employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, but also ordinary people who saved the lives of others is being honored.
"I thank all of you - all of you who are rescuing - for setting this kind of example - an example of dedication and focus on the interests of the state and people," he added.
The audience observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen heroic Ukrainian rescuers.
The President presented the Orders "For Courage" of the II and III degrees to the employees of the State Emergency Service.
In the presence of the Head of State, the winners of the Hero - Rescuer of the Year nationwide action were also awarded. The award was given to Ukrainians who demonstrated courage and heroism while saving lives in the face of a full-scale Russian invasion.