Zelensky Pays Tribute To Military On Ukrainian Armed Forces Day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday paid tribute to his military, to coincide with his country's national Armed Forces Day.

Ukraine's Armed Forces Day falls on December 6 each year, which marks the birth of the Ukrainian military in its current form after the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

On his official Telegram account, Zelensky said: "Our Armed Forces protect their native land, and this gives the strongest possible motivation. They fight for freedom, and this always increases any strength. They defend the truth, which means they defend the future of Ukraine.

"We are proud of you, we admire you, thank you. To each and every one! With deep respect—the President of Ukraine. Glory to the Ukrainian Armed Forces! Glory to Ukraine!"

Accompanying the announcement, the president posted a video paying tribute to Ukraine's military.

Zelensky also spoke about Russian attacks targeting Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure after missiles rained down on the Zaporizhzhia region on Monday and Tuesday.

"With today's missile attack Russia marked the anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum," the president said, referring to the agreement signed by Moscow, Kyiv, London and Washington ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Zelensky said Monday that "most" of approximately 70 missiles launched by Russia at Ukraine recently had been destroyed.

Russia annexed Ukraine's eastern Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and launched a large-scale invasion of the country on February 24 this year, violating the memorandum.

"The fate of this document gives answers to many current questions about Russia," Zelensky continued.

"Simply signing something with these terrorists will not bring peace. They will certainly break any agreements reached with them. Giving up any element of someone else's security to Russia means new war," he added.

"Therefore a principled continuation of the existing policy of conscientious states of the world is necessary: it is only the dismantling of Russian terrorist capacities, liberation of all our territories and holding the murderers to account that will bring peace."

Zelensky said that he believed Ukraine and its allies would achieve this.

"Glory to everyone who defends Ukraine! Gratitude to everyone who helps our state hold out against Russian terror! Eternal memory to everyone whose life was taken by terrorists!"

Separately, on the Facebook profile of Ukraine's Armed Forces, a general paid tribute to fallen soldiers.

General Valery Zaluzhnyi said that on Ukraine's Armed Forces day he was thinking mainly about "the fallen brothers and sisters and their families."

"These thoughts break my heart as Commander-in-Chief and as a father, husband and son," Zaluzhnyi said. "They make us constantly look back at the path we have passed for almost nine years. This is the path of the Warriors, the way of the People who have the courage and dignity to choose freedom. It is covered in blood, full of suffering and pain. But it is, which leads us forward to take revenge and win. It does not leave space for fear or despair."

He wished wounded Ukrainian soldiers a quick recovery.

Newsweek has contacted Russia's foreign ministry for comment.

Tens of thousands of people have lost their lives in the war, including many civilians. Millions of Ukrainians have been displaced and fled the country.

On December 2, Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said he believed that between 10,000 and 13,000 Ukrainian military personnel had died since fighting began in February.