President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky On the evening of October 6, I gathered defenders and defenders from the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv to express my gratitude to:
“Today is our day of gratitude. This is the meaning of December 6 – and this is forever. Now, this is the only way our people will celebrate the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – with words of gratitude, a feeling of gratitude, tears of gratitude. I am sure that millions of times today in Ukraine it sounded or just thought that way – thank you.
When in a state the Day of the Armed Forces is, in its meaning, a holiday of gratitude, such a state, I am sure, cannot be defeated and impossible to break. And today we see it all for sure and have seen it again.
For 8 years and 286 days, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been protecting Ukraine from Russian aggression, thousands of Ukrainians have given their lives for victory and freedom [Присутствующие почтили минутой молчания память тех, кто погиб на полях боев].
It is an honor for me to spend the whole day with the defenders and defenders of Ukraine. On this day, Ukraine managed to return home another 60 soldiers who were in Russian captivity.
Now here, in the Mariinsky Palace, are our heroes, relatives of our soldiers, commanders and representatives of combat brigades and units who have just arrived from the front and are returning to the front again. Where it’s really hot. Where they really fight for our freedom, for our independence, for our children.
And I want to tell everyone present exactly what is in the heart of every Ukrainian today, I am sure: I thank you! I thank absolutely all soldiers, all sailors, all sergeants, foremen, all officers, all heroes, generals and, of course, all dads and all your mothers, our respected, revered Ukrainian soldiers.
I wish you all one thing – victory! For all of us. You deserve! All of our people deserve it. All our parents, our children deserve. Our state and history deserve to win at last.”
