UKRAINE: THE DAY OF VICTORY OVER NAZISM

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on the Day of Victory over Nazism took part in the ceremony commemorating the deceased on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of Victory in the Second World War. The solemn procession led by the Head of State passed by Alley of the War Glory to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier. The Head of State laid flowers to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier and paid tribute to the deceased. A wreath with a ribbon of national colors was also put to the monument. The attendees honored the memory of the deceased heroes with a moment of silence. The ceremony was attended by veterans of the Second World War, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, other officials, representatives of the Government, Presidential Administration, clergy and the public. Warriors of the Honor Guard passed solemnly marched in front of the Monument. President Petro Poroshenko stressed that Ukrainians had made a significant contribution to the victory over Nazism in the Second World War. Without millions of Ukrainian soldiers in World War II the world war wouldn’t have finished. It would have lasted much longer,” the Head of State noted. The President stressed that Ukrainians with weapons in their hands had defended their land from hostile attacks throughout the history. "The connection between generations of defenders of Ukraine is inextricably linked. These days, we traditionally honor memory of the defenders of Ukraine who fought and won on different lands and continents during the Second World War," the Head of State emphasized. "Paying tribute to the tremendous role of the troops of all the states of the anti-Hitler coalition in the defeat of the Third Reich, we are, of course, proud of the contribution of Ukrainians to the achievement of a common victory and salvation of the world from Nazi enslavement. Bled white by the pre-war collectivization, the Holodomor, the Great Terror of the 1930s, our people lost every fifth daughter and son in the flame of the worldwide human disaster," Petro Poroshenko said. The President stressed that Ukraine, as a result of its geostrategic situation, had become one of the main bridgeheads of the World War - during thirty-five months, active military operations of regular troops were conducted on its territory. The President stressed that one should know and remember the feats of Ukrainians on all fronts of the Second World War: "On the banks of the Dnieper and the Donets, the Volga and the Ladoga, the Vistula and the Danube. In the sky of Britain, the deserts of North Africa, on the coast of Normandy and the islands of the Pacific Ocean. In the Red Army, in the military structure of the countries of the Anti-Hitler coalition: the United States, Canada and many others. And of course - in the ranks of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army". "Today, we proudly honor our most respected citizens - people of the older generation: soldiers of all the armies who defeated Nazis, rear workers, war children and martyrs of the Nazi concentration camps,” the President said. https://youtu.be/IJ8nd6Utp0Q

Source: AP Ukraine