Dear Ukrainians,
Dear warriors, representatives of our state’s government institutions, members of parliament, members of the diplomatic corps, clergy,
Dear journalists,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, all of us are participants in an event of national significance. An event in which Ukraine is once again restoring the highest form of historical justice – justice for itself. We are bringing home an outstanding son of the Ukrainian people – an exemplary warrior and a prominent Ukrainian statesman, Colonel Yevhen Konovalets.
Together with him, Ukraine has regained a part of itself – its memory, Ukrainian experience, our national history – the history of all those who, at different times, lived and fought for Ukraine, for our independence and our sovereign state.
Colonel Yevhen Konovalets is such a figure. His fate – heroic and tragic at the same time – is like a symbol of that entire period of our history.
Konovalets was born at a time when foreign states and empires ruled over Ukrainian lands. Throughout his conscious life, he fought for Ukraine to be restored and to gain real independent strength. He fought through action. He persuaded through courage. And he thought realistically at a time when many found it more convenient to remain captive to one illusion or another.
Konovalets knew that a strong state needs a strong army, and he was an organizer of the Ukrainian military – whose feats of valor continue to inspire all our warriors to this day. Unfortunately, at that time, Ukraine was unable to establish itself. There was not enough unity, not enough wisdom among the political leaders of the time, not enough ability to build genuine ties with the world.
But Ukraine’s time has come. Independence was restored, and we defended Ukraine’s right to be itself. No one will ever remove the blue-and-yellow flags from Kyiv again, and it is only our state, only Ukraine, that will choose its national path.
Now, remembering Ukraine’s struggle for liberation, we all know with absolute certainty what mistakes must not be made. We know what Ukraine needs and where we must focus our attention and efforts. We know what national priorities our state must have.
Colonel Konovalets has returned to the very Ukraine he fought for and wanted to see. A strong, sovereign, independent Ukraine. A Ukraine that honors and develops its army – one of the strongest not only in Europe, but also in the world. An army whose shoulder patches bear our coat of arms, our Trident. A Ukraine that has become the creator of its own history.
For the fifth year now, Russia has been trying to break our state with its full-scale war. And now it is once again betting on the hardships of winter – even more than on all its weapons. But no matter what evil the Russians commit in their war against our Ukrainian people, we know this: we will return all their evil to them with our long-range capabilities, and for ourselves, we will win and build the peace we need so much. Peace for Ukraine – a Ukraine that will never again be part of another state and will never forget its heroes.
Ladies and gentlemen!
These days, the words “Welcome home, Colonel!” can be seen across our country and throughout our Kyiv. One sentence, but behind it lies an enormous history and difficult work by a large team of like-minded people. Those who defend Ukraine. All those who preserve Ukraine. And all those who preserved what is Ukrainian at times when this task was not easy, when it was a special one.
I want to thank the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada and the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada, as well as all Ukrainian patriots who for decades preserved the memory of Konovalets and his burial place.
I thank everyone in Ukraine who has now come together so that our national history and statehood can have such places here, in Ukraine, where Ukrainian heroes are honored. I thank the entire team of the Office of the President, our historians, diplomats, and hundreds of caring and proactive people for whom bringing Colonel Konovalets home to Ukraine was a matter of honor.
Dear Ukrainians!
Today, there are still many names – those who fought for Ukraine, who inspired and created for Ukraine, and who, unfortunately, are buried outside of Ukraine. We will do everything to bring each and every one of our true Ukrainian heroes back to their native land, step by step. This is a noble goal and our duty to them – and to everyone with whom they fought side by side so that Ukraine could exist and be itself.
Eternal glory and honor to all Ukrainian heroes! Eternal glory to Colonel Yevhen Konovalets!
Glory to Ukraine!
