Happy Armed Forces Day

Today, on the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,

We want to say the most important thing – thank you.

Thank you for your courage.

Thank you for your bravery.

Thank you for your unbreakable spirit and resilience.

Thanks to you, Ukraine exists.

And will continue to exist.

Thanks to you, we do not give up and continue to fight every day

for our freedom, for our future, for our home.

These words are from children.

They have felt the war as closely as anyone ever should.

They know what it means to wait.

They know what it means to miss someone.

But even more, they know what it means to believe.

To believe in you.

To believe in victory.

To believe that each of you will return home.

Dear defenders, both men and women,

You are our heroes.

And every step you take on the front line is a step toward a quiet morning,

toward children’s laughter, toward a peaceful sky over Ukraine.

We are waiting for you.

We are proud of you.

We are praying for you.

And we thank you – from the bottom of our hearts.