The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, thanked all the heroes defending the Mariupol, occupied by Russian invaders.
He stated this in his video message.
"Today, I want to say something special to those heroes who have a hard time. To those who are defending Mariupol. Marine Battalion of the 36th Marine Brigade. Azov Special Operations Detachment. 12th Special Operations Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine. The State Border Guard Service units. Right Sector Volunteers, 555th Military Hospital and National Police," the President said.
Zelenskyy also thanked all the militaries fighting in the east of the country in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone, which protects Kharkiv, the Kharkiv region, the whole military group that protects the Zaporizhzhia region, and the South of our country.
"Special thanks to the 92nd, 93rd, and 95th brigades. Personally to General Naiev. And I am infinitely grateful to everyone! On behalf of all Ukrainians," he said.
The President also added that he had signed three decrees on awarding state awards to 419 militaries of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 72 of them posthumous.
Also, the President awarded 30 militaries of the Chief Directorate of Intelligence with state awards.
The title of Hero of Ukraine was awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Vasyliev, Commander of the Rocket Forces Division of the 19th Missile Brigade, posthumously.
Earlier, Zelenskyy emphasized that more weapons, planes, and armored vehicles were needed for the UAF (Armed Forces of Ukraine) to liberate Ukrainian cities, including Mariupol, from the Russian occupiers.