Poroshenko on Independence Day: “Russians, Don’t Mess with Ukraine”

Speaking on Maidan Nezalezhnosti [Independence Square] on August 24, Independence Day, President Petro Poroshenko said that 2,504 Ukrainian servicemen and women died due to the military aggression of Russia in Ukraine.

"The enemy did not manage to fulfil any of its strategic tasks or bring Ukraine to its knees," the President said.

Poroshenko said that since the start of the ATO, over 300,000 servicemen and women have had rotations to the frontline, either voluntarily or through conscription. According to the President, if the pace was maintained, we would have seen the 9th wave of mobilization by now, but we have not yet started the 7th wave, as we are trying to change the approach and build a professional army where service personnel work on a contract. Currently, about 6,000 soldiers enlist every month and 75% of those serving in the army have contracts.

"Our army is truly the people’s army. Those were you, Ukrainians, who bought or restored tanks, infantry vehicles, APCs, anti-aircraft guns, and artillery systems for the army. Volunteers were the first to help the army," the President said.

Poroshenko said that although Ukraine is able to protect itself, it also requires continuous help from international partners as Ukraine’s enemy is a country whose military budget is many times bigger. "However, Ukrainians are ready to continue fighting for their independence. The main guarantor of our independence are the Armed Forces of Ukraine. And this is much more serious than the Budapest Memorandum."

The aggressor should remember the words of the Russian poet Vladimir Mayakovsky: "Russian comrade, don’t mess with Ukraine" [ed: literally "Muscovite comrade, don’t show jokes to Ukraine"].

"We are past our youth [as a country] and entering the period of maturity. The Association Agreement with the EU is already bearing fruit and gradually compensates the huge economic losses brought by the war and the economic aggression of Russia," said the President. He also thanked international partners for financial support, supply of non-lethal weapons and humanitarian aid, and sanctions against Russia.

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda