Kiev (EFE) of the Black Sea maritime zone, occupied by the Russians in February of last year and liberated on June 30.
“I want to thank precisely from here, from this place of victory, each of our soldiers for these 500 days: our armed forces, our intelligence service, our National Guard, our border guards, the Security Service of Ukraine, the National Police, our broadcast operators, our people,” he said.
And he continued: “I thank all those who fight for Ukraine.”
He expressed his wish that the freedom that all the heroes wanted for Ukraine and “that must be conquered right now”, be “an honor for all those who gave their lives for Ukraine”, adding: “Without a doubt, we will win”.
“Although it is a small piece of land in the middle of our Black Sea, it is great proof that Ukraine will recover every part of its territory,” said Zelensky, quoted by the Unian agency, referring to the Island of Snakes in the “500 days of full-scale war.”
“Grateful to everyone who fought here against the occupiers. We honor the memory of the heroes who gave their lives in this battle, one of the most important in large-scale warfare. Glory to each and every one of those who fought for the safety of our Black Sea! he added.
The liberation of Snake Island was preceded by the April sinking of the Russian flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva.
The Russian Defense Ministry at the time described the Russian withdrawal as a “gesture of goodwill”.