Andriy Parubiy: The key task of the Ukrainian state these days – is the restoration of peaceful life in the Eastern regions of Ukraine

Liberation by the Ukrainian military of several cities of Donetsk and Lugansk regions, which took place last week and the subsequent escape of Hirkin from Sloviansc, was a critical stage in the "hybrid war" which the Russian Federation is waging now in Ukraine. This was said by the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy during a web conference with the Vice-President of the Atlantic Council (Washington) Damon McWilson.

"Very important psychological change occurred in the way of conducting of Ukrainian anti-terrorist operations the last days. The last Saturday on the 5^th of July, after fierce fighting, we have liberated a large number of cities and towns in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions," the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine said.

He noted that this had determined by plan of the liberation of the Ukrainian cities approved by the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. "And in fact, Sloviansc, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka and several other cities in Donetsk region were released in a few days", Andriy Parubiy added.

He said that the liberation of Sloviansc of Donetsk region had become a key milestone. "The key moment was the battle for Mykolayivka, which is actually a suburb of Sloviansc, and by going to Mykolaivka we fully locked a ring around Sloviansc. The Russian propaganda has tried to make this city a kind of symbol of the struggle of Russian terrorists in the Eastern regions of Ukraine," the Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine said.

"This is a turning point in this hybrid war, which puts the finishing line in banishing of all terrorists from all territory of Ukraine. And the key task of the Ukrainian state these days is to restore peaceful life on the territories which were under the terror of fighters a long time," Andriy Parubiy summarized.