Greetings of Secretary of the NSDC of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov on the occasion of the Day of the Ukrainian Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

I sincerely congratulate the combat personnel and the veterans of the Naval Forces with the professional holiday!

The glorious history of the Ukrainian naval mariners started from the Princely fleet of Kievan Rus and the Cossack "chaikas". Throughout the whole modern history of Ukraine, seamen and officers have performed their duty with dignity, asserting and strengthening Ukraine's authority as a maritime state.

I thank all those seamen and officers who remained loyal to the oath during the military aggression of the Russian Federation in the Crimea. You served honorably in the line of your duty, having borne the brunt and provided the opportunity to build the defense of our country and revive the combat potential of the Armed Forces. Today, our marines confront the enemy in the east of Ukraine with dignity, and sailors secure the sea borders of our country. Ukraine was, is and will be a maritime country with decent and reliable Naval Forces!

Congratulations!