"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!"

Today, I signed a decree conferring the title of Hero of Ukraine on Serhiy Sovyi. A fighter of the glorious 93rd mechanized brigade "Hолодний Яр". He defended our state, Ukraine, since the beginning of the war in 2014, fought for Pisky, for Donetsk airport. After February 24th, he fought in Kharkiv.

Serhiy Sovyi gave his life for Ukraine. We all saw a photograph of his hand with blue and yellow bracelets on the wrist. He wore them as an amulet since 2014. And this photo became one of the first from Izium, from the site of a mass burial in the forest, which was discovered when the occupiers fled. He was a true warrior and such a father that one can only aspire to be like him. Eternal glory and respect to the hero!

Eternal glory to all our warriors who gave their lives fighting for our state!

Today, I awarded the honorary distinction "For Courage and Bravery" to three of our brigades—the 1st Separate Tank Brigade Severskiy, the 40th Separate Artillery Brigade, and the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade.

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, soldiers of the 1st Separate Tank Brigade have honorably and courageously fulfilled their assigned tasks. Initially on the Chernihiv front, and now in the hottest spots in southern and eastern parts of our state. In half a year, over a thousand soldiers of this brigade were awarded state honors.

Units of the 40th Separate Artillery Brigade are defending the country on the Kharkiv front—doing so bravely and effectively. The losses inflicted by this brigade on Russia's army demonstrate to all occupiers that there is no place for an enemy on our land.

The 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade has distinguished itself with good results in southern parts of our state—liberating a series of populated areas in Kherson. During the period of Russia's full-scale invasion, three soldiers from this brigade have already been awarded the Order "Golden Star," and 275 servicemen received state honors.

By the way, since the introduction of such an award for our military units—introduced in May of this year—already 46 military units have been honored for courage and bravery. Of these, 38 are military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, four are military units of the State Border Guard Service, and four are military units of the National Guard. Thank you all, guys! Well done!

The heroism, courage of our warriors, their desire for independence and justice, which united our entire nation, leave no doubt that Ukraine will win. And that all occupiers on our territory will definitely be defeated. If not by fleeing. Indeed, this is the truth.

Once again, I want to say something in Russian.

The criminal mobilization declared by Russia was immediately called "mobilization into graves" by Russian citizens themselves. Mobilization into graves. The Russian authorities clearly understand that they are sending their citizens to death—no other options are provided for.

Russian commanders do not care about Russian lives—they simply need to fill the empty spots after killed, wounded, deserters, or captured Russian soldiers.

Who will fill these spots does not concern your authorities. Whether it is young IT specialists who never served at all, or pensioners who only served in the Soviet army. Therefore, now—this is a key moment for you all, the time when your life ends or continues.

It's better to avoid being drafted than to die as a war criminal on foreign soil.

It's better to flee from this criminal mobilization than to be maimed and then face trial for participating in an aggressive war.

Surrendering to Ukrainian captivity is better than dying under our weapons, under absolutely just blows, because Ukraine is defending itself in this war. We are defending the most precious—our lives, our children, our freedom.

What does Russia fight for? Every Russian citizen knows—and even if many do not admit it, they know—that Russia is bringing evil.

Ukraine guarantees every Russian soldier who surrenders three things. First: you will be treated civilly in accordance with all conventions. Second: no one will learn the circumstances of your surrender; no one in Russia will find out that your surrender was voluntary. And third: if you fear returning to Russia and do not want an exchange, we will find a way to ensure this.

Ukraine will do everything for its victory. Every Russian citizen must understand: no tricks will help the occupier. I promise you that.

We will respond to every blow of the aggressor—on Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv, on Mykolaiv, Nikopol, in Donbas, in all our cities and regions... We will definitely liberate our entire country—from Kherson to Luhansk, from Crimea, I emphasize, to Donetsk.

We will not allow the occupier to go unpunished. Every killer and torturer will be held accountable for what they have done against us, Ukrainians.

Eternal glory to all our heroes!

Glory to our unbreakable people!

Eternal memory to all who gave their lives for our motherland—Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!"