President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy took part in the celebrations on the occasion of graduation of students of the operational-strategic and operational-tactical levels of training of the Ivan Cherniakhovskyi National Defense University of Ukraine.
"I am glad to personally congratulate you on this special day. We often meet on the frontline, in a completely different environment, when you are doing your important, difficult, dangerous, responsible work. And today it is especially nice to see you here, in a peaceful, warm, solemn atmosphere," the Head of State said.
He congratulated the military on the successful completion of the education, noting that among this year's 730 graduates, 603 are combatants.
"It demonstrates your incredible desire for continuous development, growth, acquisition of new knowledge and skills. And all of us, in the conditions of the ongoing Russian aggression, understand how important it is not to stop and constantly improve every day,” the President emphasized.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that thanks to the graduates of the Ivan Cherniakhovskyi National Defense University of Ukraine, the Ukrainian army is becoming even stronger.
The President thanked the staff of the institution, which has been preparing well-trained and educated warriors for the Ukrainian army for many years. At the time of Ukraine's independence, this is a total of 7.5 thousand specialists.
"Most of them are ATO/JFO participants, and one of those present here, Colonel Serhiy Sobko, was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. In total, 12 Heroes of Ukraine studied at the university during the war,” the President said.
The attendees also honored the memory of 28 fallen defenders who studied at this university.
The ceremony was also attended by Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak and his Deputy Roman Mashovets, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine Melinda Simmons.
