At the command post of the 95th Polissia Separate Air Assault Brigade, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi and Commander of the Airborne Forces Oleh Apostol, met with military personnel carrying out missions in the Oleksandrivka area.
Oleh Apostol reported on the progress of tasks assigned to the paratroopers in liberating the last kilometers of the Dnipro region, as well as on active defense operations in the Donetsk region. The meeting also addressed the situation in the Slovyansk–Kramatorsk urban agglomeration, in the Huliaipole area and in Kostiantynivka.
The Head of State spoke with commanders of Airborne Forces brigades and battalions about recruitment, other approaches to mobilization, the involvement of foreign volunteers, and a set of measures to bring back military personnel who have gone AWOL. They also discussed providing units with unmanned ground vehicles, quad bikes and long-range artillery shells. The President said that the warriors’ needs would be met.
The Head of State congratulated the defenders on Ukraine’s Independence Day and thanked them for preserving our state.
“You are one of those brigades that made this possible, a very strong brigade. Of course, we are grateful to all our warriors. But we must always single out and recognize the strongest, the brave, the resilient, and absolutely honest warriors – those who look the enemy in the eye, are not afraid, and know that more of the enemy must be destroyed, and then Ukraine will win. I wish you that victory, and I believe you are one of our truly outstanding brigades, one of the achievements of independent Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President presented the Order of the Golden Star to Hero of Ukraine and Commander of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade Colonel Ruslan Maryshev. He rose through the ranks from platoon commander to brigade commander. From January to May, in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro regions, units under his command liberated around 101 square kilometers, eliminated more than 700 enemy personnel, wounded 850 occupiers, captured ten Russians, and destroyed tanks, artillery systems, and more than 2,000 drones. The 95th Brigade then began carrying out missions in the Donetsk region. Since May, it has liberated 53 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory and inflicted more than 1,000 casualties on Russian forces, killed and wounded. Colonel Maryshev has repeatedly been at frontline positions, making decisions under direct threat to his life.
The Head of State also presented the military personnel with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, II–III classes, and “For Courage,” II–III classes.
The memory of fallen Ukrainian warriors was honored with a minute of silence.
