President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation on Army Day, thanking everyone who strengthens our defense and spoke about his presence in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

"Glory to Ukraine!

Ladies and gentlemen generals, officers, sergeants, soldiers!

Dear Ukrainians!

Today is a day of gratitude. This is the true meaning of December 6th – forevermore. Now only this way will our people celebrate Army Day – with words of gratitude, feelings of gratitude, tears of gratitude.

I am sure that millions of times today in Ukraine these very words were said or thought – "thank you."

Thank you to the soldiers of our army and all formations of Ukraine's defense forces.

Thank you to the parents of our soldiers, who raised true victors. Exactly so – victors.

Thank you to all doctors and medical sisters who save wounded heroes.

Thank you to everyone who strengthens defense and provides Ukrainian soldiers with everything they need.

When in a country Army Day is by its meaning a day of gratitude, such a country cannot be defeated or broken. And today we all see this again and once more.

Honorable guests!

Eight years and already 286 days the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been defending our beautiful state from occupiers, from Russian aggression. Thousands of Ukrainians gave their lives so that one day there would be no occupier on our land and all our people would once again be free.

I ask you now to honor a moment of silence in memory of each person, each woman who fell on the battlefield for our state, for Ukraine, and whose life became part of the heroic story of Ukraine's bravery.

Dear Ukrainians!

Today it is an honor for me to spend the entire day with our defenders. In the morning I was in Donetsk – thanking fighters who are defending our state on the most dangerous and responsible fronts. Those fighting at Svatove, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and other directions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Awarded soldiers with state awards and medals.

Today I was in Kharkiv – thanking doctors who are saving our indomitable fighters. In Kharkiv today I awarded fighters who participated in liberating the region and continue to drive out occupiers from Ukraine.

Today we managed to bring home 60 soldiers who were in Russian captivity. We will continue to return all of them and free everyone.

Here, at Mariinsky Palace – our heroes, relatives of our soldiers, commanders and representatives of combat brigades and units who have just arrived from the front and are returning again to the frontline. There, where it is really hot. There, where they truly fight for our freedom, independence, for our children.

And I want to say to everyone present exactly what is in my heart today – sure that every Ukrainian feels it: thank you! Thank you absolutely all soldiers, sailors, sergeants, petty officers, officers, heroes, generals and definitely – all your fathers and mothers, our honorable, respected Ukrainian warriors.

I wish everyone here one thing – victory! To us all. You deserve it! Our entire nation deserves it. All of our parents, children deserve it. Our state and history deserve it. Finally to achieve victory.

Glory to the Armed Forces of Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!"