President Petro Poroshenko during his speech at the celebrations devoted to the 100th anniversary of Marines of Ukraine in Mykolaiv stressed: “Today, the Marine Corps, like the entire Ukrainian Army, are much stronger than before the war”.
Looking at you, dear Marines, the whole country sees fighters – decisive and courageous, patriotic and cohesive, with a strong will and indestructible spirit, self-confident and victorious. Trained to carry out the most difficult, important tasks, both at sea and on land, in conditions of incredible physical and psychological stress. You are always there where the situation is the hardest, where you need courage and tenacity, speed and decisive, unbridled pressure,” the Head of State noted.
“Every day intensive building of the combat potential of this important type of troops continues. The units receive new and upgraded weapons, military equipment and modern communications equipment,” the President stressed.
“In this square, the best of the best came together, the representatives of all military units and divisions of the Marine Corps. Many of you arrived from combat positions in the Joint Forces` Operational area and on the administrative line with the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea. There are also glorious sons of the Crimean Tatar People here who left the occupied peninsula and continue to fight for the return of their native land,” the President said.
Among the participants he named the marine battalion chief petty officer Eskander Kudusov, the chief sailor Ruslan Ahmetov and other heroes who were awarded by the Head of the State. 391 marines were promoted with the states awards for courage. 290 marines were injured and 34 – lost their lives defending the Ukrainian land, noted Petro Poroshenko. The fallen Marines were observed a minute of silence