At the command post of the 80th Halytska Separate Air Assault Brigade, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi and Commander of the Airborne Forces Oleh Apostol, met with military personnel carrying out missions in the Oleksandrivka direction.
Acting Brigade Commander Dmytro Savon reported on the progress of assigned tasks, challenges, and prospects.
The President spoke with commanders about supplies of reconnaissance and strike drones, the need for long-range artillery and small radar stations. They also discussed additional direct funding for brigades, stronger incentives for AWOL personnel to return, and training and motivation for personnel. A separate topic was a set of reconnaissance, preparatory and technical measures to protect pilots on the frontline.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that each of the issues discussed today would be worked through with the military.
The Head of State congratulated the warriors on Ukraine’s Independence Day, thanked them for their service and presented them with state awards.
“It is you who give us the opportunity to be proud that we are an independent state and to have this independence. Thirty-five years of our independence. The enemy launched its full-scale war after the 30th anniversary, and you have been fighting for it with pride and resilience for almost five years. I thank you very much, your brothers and sisters-in-arms – we thank everyone. Take care of yourselves, take care of your personnel. Without a doubt, this is the most precious thing we have – people. That is what our state is,” he said.
The President presented the military personnel with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III class, and “For Courage,” I–III classes, as well as the medals “For Military Service to Ukraine,” “To the Defender of the Motherland” and “For Saved Life.”