During a working trip to Zaporizhzhia region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the command posts of the combat brigades involved in the liberation of Ukrainian land as part of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops.
The Head of State, together with First Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Pavliuk, Commander of the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops Oleksandr Tarnavskyi and Commander of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Commander of the Marun operational and tactical group Maksym Myrhorodskyi, visited the command posts of the 148th separate artillery brigade, 82nd separate air assault brigade and 71st separate hunting brigade.
The President of Ukraine heard reports of the commanders on the operational situation in the area of their responsibility and the actions of Ukrainian troops to de-occupy the territory of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with the commanders the tactics of combating enemy UAVs.
During the conversation between the Head of State and the military, special attention was paid to their needs and current problematic issues.
The President also awarded the servicemen who distinguished themselves in the defense of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Zaporizhzhia sector.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine and presented the Gold Star Order to Major Oleh Dmytruk, commander of the airmobile battalion of the 46th separate airmobile brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who has been defending Ukraine from Russian invaders since 2014. The Major took part in the battles for the liberation of Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Krasnyi Lyman, Kryva Luka, and Maryinka. During Russia's full-scale invasion in May 2022, he led an airmobile battalion that took part in the liberation of Beryslav district in Kherson region.
The President also presented the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi of the I-III degrees, "For Courage" of the II-III degrees and the Order of Princess Olga of the III degree to the defenders from the Tavria operational and strategic group of troops who distinguished themselves by bravery in the defense of Ukraine.
"On behalf of myself and all Ukrainians, I would like to thank you for the great service you have been performing these months and, unfortunately, years. The service that will definitely lead to the victory of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people for the sake of the future. I thank each and every one of you. Thank you for risking your lives to defend our country, each and every one of us. I wish you victory, to come back alive to your families, your parents, your children, your loved ones. Thank you once again from the whole of Ukraine," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The audience observed a minute of silence in memory of the fallen warriors and all those who gave their lives for the sake of Ukraine's freedom and independence.
