The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky made a video address to his compatriots on the occasion of the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, Ukrinform reported, quoted by BTA.
„Ukraine cannot agree to anything less than living. Nothing less than to be preserved. Nothing less than to remain human. Ukraine will not succumb to the evil that sheds blood for its own sick self-assertion. Which despises the truth – both human and divine, and devalues everything but itself. "Russia is building its statehood precisely on this," Zelensky said.
The text of the address was published on the website of the head of state.
He noted that the history of Ukrainians in these lands dates back more than a millennium.
Zelensky added that despite great efforts “to prevent Ukraine from being itself“, the people and the spirit of the country have not broken.
On Ukrainian Statehood Day, Ukrainians celebrate the adoption of Christianity in Kievan Rus. The holiday was established by presidential decree in 2021, and this year it will be celebrated for the first time on July 15 due to the calendar reform, notes Ukrinform.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense in Moscow said that on Sunday, Russian forces captured the village of Urozhainoe in the eastern part of Ukraine's Donetsk region, Reuters reported. If the information is confirmed, it will be another territorial gain by the Russian army in the series of conquests it has achieved since the capture of the strategic city of Avdeyevka in February, adds Reuters.
According to Ukrainian bloggers, Kiev forces have withdrawn from the village, located southwest of the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk. The Ukrainian army said fighting was still taking place in the area.
The Reuters agency says it has not been able to confirm the statements of either of the warring parties through an independent source.
The village of Urozhainoe was captured by Russian forces at the beginning of the invasion that began in February 2022. The Ukrainian army regained control of the village in July last year.