Denys Prokopenko

Commander of the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Today, we mark the 32nd anniversary of the founding of the brigades Bureviy, Chervona Kalyna, and Kara Dag, which form part of First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Units with a long combat history and a distinguished legacy, they have spent the past year as an integral part of First Corps Azov, contributing to its development and shaping its identity.

In 2014, these units were among the first to push back against pro-Russian separatists in Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.

Over this time, you have grown not only in size but in capability, acquiring new competencies while continuing to carry out critically important work with courage and professionalism every single day. The results you achieve demonstrate your readiness to execute operations that demand exceptional military talent and skill.

Within the Corps, continuous experience-sharing and joint training across all units significantly strengthen each brigade, enabling the implementation of best practices as quickly and effectively as possible while increasing enemy losses in personnel and equipment. Every brigade brings its own invaluable experience to this process, and only by combining our efforts can we count on success at the front.

I congratulate the personnel of the brigades Bureviy, Chervona Kalyna, and Kara Dag, and thank every fighter, sergeant, and officer for your service, your contribution to our common cause, and the resolve and dedication you demonstrate on the battlefield. The command of First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine remains committed to your growth and reinforcement.

I also wish to congratulate our brothers-in-arms from the Armed Forces of Ukraine: the commander and personnel of the 25th Separate Assault Battalion, which, as of today, has officially been expanded into a regiment. For a year now, you have been carrying out your combat missions at a high level within the First Corps Azov sector. Measured action, courage, resolve, and above all, integrity — these qualities define your effectiveness on the battlefield.

It is an honor to fight shoulder to shoulder with you.

Glory to the nation!

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Freeing our brothers-in-arms from captivity is my personal priority and a matter of honor for every Azov member. From the first day after leaving Azovstal, nothing has consumed me more than working to secure what the Azov fighters who bravely fought in Mariupol and followed their orders deserve — the return of every single one of them home.

Azov works on this mission every day, both on the military front (constantly replenishing the exchange pool) and on the human rights front (through extensive advocacy on the issue of POWs in Ukraine and abroad). This work is often invisible, but the unit has never forgotten its captured fighters, not for a single moment.

Total focus on this must be a priority not only for Azov but also for all responsible state institutions and for all of Ukrainian society. This is the kind of state we all want to see, the one we have been fighting for over the past 12 years: one that is accountable to its citizens who gave themselves to the service of Ukraine, one that is ready to do everything possible to honor them as they deserve and stand by them in their darkest times.

Our nation has repeatedly demonstrated its capacity to defend its interests, no matter how great the cost. This is what makes our resistance to the enemy possible; this is what allowed us to hold firm and not submit. The return of the captive Azov members is yet another challenge, one we can only meet together, by uniting our efforts and keeping this issue on the agenda, above all in our own hearts and minds. Thank you to everyone who consistently supports Azov on this path.

Hundreds of Azov members, now entering their fifth year in captivity, are counting on us. Even in Russian concentration camps, constrained in what they can do, under torture and relentless pressure, they still find ways to support one another. We, with our freedom, our voice, and our capabilities at every level, are obligated to act.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

In peacetime, the state functions thanks to a large number of different factors: laws that regulate social relations, the political system, security structures, the economy, and international ties.

But in times critical for the very existence of the state, when the familiar world is collapsing before our eyes, the state above all rests on the brave, the true, and the loyal — its finest citizens. There are people who, without orders or coercion, guided only by their internal moral compass, decide to take responsibility and be the first to step toward the threat.

Why and how a person becomes a volunteer, where this fire within them comes from, a fire that leaves no room for doubt, is a question I have reflected on more than once while observing the combat path of my brothers-in-arms who volunteered.

The answer lies beyond the rational. Cause-and-effect reasoning cannot fully explain why a sense of responsibility for one’s country arises in a person’s heart and leads them to act, regardless of danger, fear, and often the absence of prior military experience.

Modern equipment can be developed and produced, military reforms can be carried out, personnel can be trained and provided with everything necessary. But it is impossible to create under laboratory conditions the inner impulse that distinguishes those who voluntarily stood up to defend the Motherland from all others, and without which everything else becomes both impossible and meaningless. It either exists or it does not.

Ukraine has been fortunate with every person who did not run or wait, but voluntarily chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest sons and daughters of the nation in the struggle for its existence.

Happy Volunteer Day, brothers-in-arms!

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

In peacetime, the state functions thanks to a large number of different factors: laws that regulate social relations, the political system, security structures, the economy, and international ties.

But in times critical for the very existence of the state, when the familiar world is collapsing before our eyes, the state above all rests on the brave, the true, and the loyal — its finest citizens. There are people who, without orders or coercion, guided only by their internal moral compass, decide to take responsibility and be the first to step toward the threat.

Why and how a person becomes a volunteer, where this fire within them comes from, a fire that leaves no room for doubt, is a question I have reflected on more than once while observing the combat path of my brothers-in-arms who volunteered.

The answer lies beyond the rational. Cause-and-effect reasoning cannot fully explain why a sense of responsibility for one’s country arises in a person’s heart and leads them to act, regardless of danger, fear, and often the absence of prior military experience.

Modern equipment can be developed and produced, military reforms can be carried out, personnel can be trained and provided with everything necessary. But it is impossible to create under laboratory conditions the inner impulse that distinguishes those who voluntarily stood up to defend the Motherland from all others, and without which everything else becomes both impossible and meaningless. It either exists or it does not.

Ukraine has been fortunate with every person who did not run or wait, but voluntarily chose to stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest sons and daughters of the nation in the struggle for its existence.

Happy Volunteer Day, brothers-in-arms!

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Throughout all four years of the full-scale war, Ukrainian soldiers, sergeants, and officers have demonstrated every day that, despite shortages of personnel, weapons, and resources, it is possible to effectively resist a numerically superior enemy if priorities are set correctly. This is the central lesson of this war: the decisive factor is not hardware, money, or technology, but people.

People who, in the most demanding conditions under constant shelling, repel enemy assaults, counterattack, and capture prisoners for exchange. People who, under fire on the battlefield, save the lives of wounded brothers-in-arms. People who work in the rear across dozens of roles so that those in the trenches may have it at least slightly easier. People who make every effort at every level to bring our prisoners home.

Each of them could have fled, hidden, avoided responsibility, or refused to risk life and health. Yet for nearly five years, hundreds of thousands have stood firm. Thanks to these people, their decisions, and selflessness, Ukraine continues to live and fight. That is why Ukraine must remember every day who its greatest asset is and treat these people accordingly.

The entire Azov system, from personnel training and operational planning to the provision of timely medical care for the wounded and the extensive infrastructure surrounding the unit, is built on this principle: the life and health of our personnel are our highest priority and greatest value. Comprehensive professional development, continuous training, and the establishment of clear internal processes designed to simplify service rather than create additional burdens have always received maximum attention in Azov. The unit’s success on the battlefield confirms that this course is the right one.

Only a unit in which commanders at every level see their subordinates not as a resource for personal career advancement but as people for whom they bear responsibility, whom they must train, support, and properly equip, can be effective in combat, continue to develop, and serve as an example to others. This is what Azov was before the start of the full-scale invasion, and this is what it remains today. I am proud that the officers of all brigades of the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine share this vision.

Today, we must unite around a shared purpose, constantly learn from one another, and remain flexible enough to adapt quickly to the evolving conditions of war. Otherwise, there will be no Ukraine. The enemy understands that division among Ukrainians is its only chance to realize its plans and occupy our state, and it is doing everything possible to split us. Preventing that division and carrying out our duties with integrity, guided by our values and priorities, is what we must focus on today.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Lieutenant General Vladimir Alekseyev, First Deputy Chief of the GRU of the Russian General Staff, who was shot in Moscow this morning, was the senior Russian representative at the negotiations in Mariupol in May 2022, during the withdrawal of the Mariupol garrison from Azovstal.

Alekseyev pledged that Russia would comply with the Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war and personally guaranteed humane conditions of detention for our captured servicemen. His signature appears on the relevant document, signed in Mariupol at that time. For our part, we demonstrated humanity and handed over to Alekseyev three Russian prisoners of war who had received medical treatment and were provided with food and water.

The word of an officer, a native of Vinnytsia Oblast, and a traitor to his homeland, proved to be worthless. The systematic torture of captured Azov fighters, the denial of medical care, and starvation are clear proof of this.

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR) has reported that Alekseyev was responsible for preparing targeting data for strikes against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, as well as for organizing the so-called "referendum" in Kherson Oblast.

Even if Alekseyev survives this attempt, he will never sleep peacefully again. And one day, this will be finished.

No war criminal who has killed and tortured Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, destroyed Ukrainian cities, abducted Ukrainian children, or committed other crimes against the Ukrainian people will ever feel safe. Nowhere on the planet will such individuals find refuge or absolute security. Never.

Retribution will find everyone.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Finally, thanks to the efforts of many people, the process of exchanging prisoners of war has moved forward. Today, four servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov and five servicemen of the 15th Operational Brigade Kara-Dag returned to Ukraine after 45 months in Russian captivity.

Welcome home, brothers-in-arms. The ordeals you endured are unimaginable. You demonstrated the strength and resilience of the Azov spirit and did not break under the enemy’s immense pressure. Thank you for your courage and your loyalty to Ukraine.

I am grateful to all fighters of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, whose difficult and extremely dangerous work makes it possible to replenish our exchange pool. I also extend my gratitude to the President of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, the Association of Azovstal Defenders’ Families, as well as everyone involved in the prisoner-exchange process and those who ensure sustained international focus on the issue of our captives.

For nearly four years, more than 700 Azov fighters have remained in Russian captivity. We are working to bring every one of them home.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

For yet another time we find ourselves in a situation where our psychological resilience and strength of spirit become decisive, the qualities that allow us to keep fighting even in the darkest moments. The enemy is trying to force us to surrender, first and foremost in our minds, because it has failed to defeat us on the battlefield as it had planned. Our despair and hopelessness are the last weapon of the Russians, on which they are now placing their main bet.

The key factor in Ukraine’s survival has been and remains the Defence Forces. Soldiers, sergeants, and officers who, despite forecasts and the noise of information, despite fatigue, disappointment, pain, and fear, and even in the face of death itself, stubbornly continue day after day to perform their duties effectively.

Today, at a moment when both the enemy and fate once again test us for strength, we must remember what and why, for eleven years now, we have been fighting against the Russian Federation – a humongous machine of death whose purpose is to destroy everything that refuses to submit. We must recall how many times our state has stood on the edge of the abyss, and by what superhuman efforts the Ukrainian soldier has each time prevented its fall. And now, as in 2014, 2022, and throughout all the other years of the war, we have no other option than, while gritting our teeth, grip our weapons even tighter and refuse to give in to despair.

If we lower our arms, Ukraine will not survive. We have paid an extremely high price and continue to pay it every minute so that we do not collapse into hopelessness today. The fate of the Ukrainian nation lies in the hands of everyone who is now on the front line, who builds a reliable rear, who supports the military and works for the development of the state. This is not a pathos-filled exaggeration; it is the result of our actions or inaction, our effectiveness or ineffectiveness, multiplied by time. This must be accepted, and the appropriate conclusions must be drawn from the understanding that everything depends on us. I emphasise: on each and every one of us.

The task of Ukrainian society today is even greater, more active, and comprehensive support for the front. This support begins with a personal struggle against despair: resisting Russian information attacks on our consciousness, rejecting the surrender scenarios invented by Russia, and maintaining confidence in the necessity for everyone, in their own place, to give their utmost for the common cause.

For us, 2025 was a year of difficult trials and transformations. Azov successfully held back enemy offensive actions on some of the most challenging sections of the front, expanded into a corps, continued to develop and build up its combat power, and, sadly, also lost some of its most worthy fighters. We will avenge them.

In 2026, we will continue to hold the line for those who come after us. In memory of all those who have fallen in this war. Of those who were tortured and starved to death in past centuries. For the sake of the hundreds of Azov fighters who have been held in Russian captivity for more than three and a half years, and whose return home is our duty. For the sake of all future generations who must live in a free Ukraine, not under Russian occupation. And finally, for the sake of our own dignity, fidelity to our oath, and the ability, in the future, to look at our reflection in the mirror without remorse. A future whose sole guarantor is the Ukrainian military.

We hold the line!
We destroy the occupiers!

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Today, two servicemen of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity.

I welcome our brothers-in-arms who spent nearly three and a half years in the inhumane conditions of Russian prisons back to their homeland and their loved ones. Thank you for your strength of spirit and for enduring.

First and foremost, I want to thank all our fighters who capture enemy soldiers on the battlefield and thus replenish our exchange fund. I am also grateful to everyone systematically working on prisoner exchanges: the President of Ukraine, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, the Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families, and our partner countries that support this process.

Every serviceman who fought in Mariupol, who remained true to the oath and carried out his orders, must be exchanged.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Today is the day each of us asks ourselves: have we done enough? Have we done enough to honor the memory of our fallen brothers‑in‑arms? Have we done enough to free our prisoners of war held in Russian captivity? In our reality, we must push ourselves to the limit — do more than enough, take every possible step to achieve the desired result, fully realize our potential, and reach our goals. I want every Ukrainian to fall asleep and wake up with these thoughts.

Every day, anyone who knows this feeling finds the strength to continue the fight and accomplish the impossible — guided by duty, by justice, and by honor.

I congratulate all who shed sweat and blood every day on the Day of the Defender of Ukraine. Our war continues, and we know what — and whom — we are fighting for.

We hold the line! We eliminate the invaders!

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Another monster with the blood of thousands of Ukrainians on his hands — both civilians and service members — has paid the price.

Gurtsiev was responsible for the destruction of Mariupol from the air. Round-the-clock bombardments and missile strikes turned the city into one mass grave, with only faint traces remaining of the beautiful and peaceful Ukrainian city it once was.

I would advise Russian soldiers carrying out nightly strikes on Ukrainian cities to take note of what awaits them in the future.

For killing Ukrainians, this bastard was appointed a state official in Stavropol — but even that did not save his despicable life. Neither did his awards, regime support, nor his confidence in impunity. Inevitable retribution found him, even deep in the rear.

Those who give and carry out orders to kill and maim our prisoners of war, destroy our cities, and kidnap our children have names and surnames. We need those to identify the perpetrators, find them, and punish them. Afterward, their names will be erased, leaving behind only numbers — the terms of their sentences or the dates of their elimination.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Not a single Azov fighter. Not a single Azov fighter was among the thousand Ukrainian prisoners of war exchanged over the last three days. At the same time, the bastard who had asked his prison guards for a knife to "cut the ones from Azov" has returned home.

This feels like mockery — a cruel joke at the expense of those who have been held in Russian captivity for more than three years under the harshest conditions and inhumane pressure. A jeer at their families, loved ones, and brothers-in-arms. A show of derision towards those who were given guarantees — those who have an absolute right to be prioritized for exchange, because they went into captivity not at their own will, but by order of the High Command.

Just days ago, Ukraine marked the third anniversary of the day when the Mariupol garrison left Azovstal, hoping that the fighters of the 12th Azov Brigade would be included in the announced 1,000-for-1,000 exchange. Those expectations failed.

I will never believe the nonsense about Russia's reluctance to release Azov fighters being the sole reason for their repeated absence from exchanges. If that were truly the case, neither I nor other Azov fighters would have returned from captivity. That is not the reason.

If the established mechanism has stopped working, then expecting a different result every time is madness. The strategy must change.

If the Russians refuse to exchange Azov fighters for their regular soldiers, we must find alternatives — offer them someone more valuable than a contracted soldier from Omsk. Ukraine is packed with Russian agents — all our special services know this very well. The only thing they need is an order.

I am confident the Russians would be far more interested in the priests of the Moscow Patriarchate who openly work for Russian special services than in the soldiers Russia floods Ukrainian soil with.

At the same time, Ukraine should work on its engagement in the exchange processes between our Western allies and Russia. We have unique experience, knowledge, and information that is invaluable to the Western world. These too can become part of our exchange leverage.

There are always options — we simply need to adapt and seek out new paths and configurations. Because not a single Azov fighter among the 1,000 exchanged POWs is a disgrace to the entire state.

I do not believe that our government is interested in bringing Azov service members home, while the same people continue to ineffectively manage prisoner exchanges for the fourth year in a row.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

The only things more horrifying than the bloody battles in Mariupol, the relentless bombardment of Azovstal, and the deaths of our brothers-in-arms are oblivion and inaction.

Three years have passed since the Mariupol garrison went into captivity, fulfilling the orders of Ukraine’s highest military and political authorities after completing every task entrusted to them. Throughout this time, more than 800 service members of the 12th Azov Brigade have remained in Russian captivity.

Prolonged imprisonment, torture, constant psychological pressure, malnutrition, and denial of medical care have become the daily reality for my captive brothers-in-arms. Every day there is a battle — for life, for dignity, and for hope of freedom.

The Mariupol garrison defended the city for 86 days. They have now endured over 1,000 days in captivity.

To forget this is to betray them. To fail to make every possible effort to bring them home is to become complicit in the crime against them.

The defense of Mariupol was an act of salvation for Ukraine. Those who continue the fight in Russian prisons expect their country to show them the gratitude they deserve — just as they did three years ago, when they fought selflessly, far beyond the limits of human endurance, while completely encircled.

They would undoubtedly do the same if hundreds of Ukrainians were trapped in the hell of Russian captivity for three years — and there was even the slightest chance to rescue them.

And such chances always exist. All it takes is will and the desire to act.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Eleven years. This number represents colossal work, superhuman effort, and endless love for our homeland. Exhausting training and hard work on the front lines. Mountains of eliminated invaders and destroyed equipment. Evolution from a small volunteer group to one of the most combat-effective units in the world. We have accomplished all of this so that Ukraine may live.

This is why we consciously chose to leave behind our comfortable, safe lives and dedicate ourselves to military service. I am happy that my life journey led me to Azov 11 years ago, and I have not regretted it for a single minute.

I am thankful to the personnel of the 12th Azov Brigade — every soldier, sergeant, and officer — for their service. Without your continuous, selfless work, there would be no Azov. You are Azov.

With the establishment of the First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine, we remain a family — now even bigger. Each of you is entrusted with the most critical mission: to preserve Azov's identity and the principles that made the Azov phenomenon possible.

I have no doubt that the new commander of the 12th Azov Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Bohdan Hrishenkov, call sign "Puhach," will fulfill this mission to the highest standard, supported by the brigade's personnel. We have more than enough work ahead: to bring home all of our captive brothers-in-arms, to fight the enemy with even greater ardor, to add to the unit's combat glory, and to continue improving.

Glory to Azov! Glory to Ukraine!

[First Corps Azov of the National Guard of Ukraine @azov_media]

❗️THE FIRST CORPS AZOV OF THE NATIONAL GUARD OF UKRAINE ENTERS SERVICE

As part of the command and control reform in the Ukrainian Defense Forces, a new operational and tactical formation within the National Guard of Ukraine has been established, based on the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov.

The newly created corps includes:

▪️1st Presidential Operational Brigade Bureviy;
▪️12th Special Forces Brigade Azov;
▪️14th Operational Brigade Chervona Kalyna;
▪️15th Operational Brigade Kara Dag;
▪️Newly established 20th Operational Brigade Liubart.

The video features an address by the Commander of the First Corps Azov, Colonel Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, along with the commanders of the brigades comprising the corps.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

Today, six service members of the 12th Special Forces Brigade Azov returned home as part of a prisoner-of-war exchange.

Strong, brave, and unbreakable — I welcome you back to your native soil. Thank you for your feat. Thank you for standing strong.

The return of prisoners of war is made possible by the collective efforts of many — both those who replenish the exchange fund in fierce battles and those contributing through coordinated work, including representatives of uniformed agencies, diplomats, and human rights advocates. I am grateful to our fighters on the front lines, the President of Ukraine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, and the Association of Azovstal Defenders' Families, as well as to all the countries facilitating these exchanges.

For nearly three years, 842 Azov fighters have remained in captivity. Each of us must do everything in our power to bring them home.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

One world-renowned French writer and volunteer believed that being human means feeling responsible for what happens around you. Another famous German thinker and volunteer wrote, "It is important to note that it is precisely the most vigorous life that sacrifices itself most willingly." These two quotations perhaps best capture the essence of Ukrainian volunteers — those who chose to fight rather than flee.

There is no greater happiness than defending what is dear to you, taking responsibility for the fate of your country, and making your own decisions about your life while standing at the epicenter of historic events for your people.

I am proud that Azov has been a stronghold of the volunteer spirit in Ukraine since its inception. Today, the unit remains true to its origins. No modern weapon frightens the occupiers more than disciplined, well-trained, and motivated fighters — those who made the conscious choice to exchange the comfort of their homes and the calm of rear towns for the steel thunderstorms of battles for their motherland’s freedom; those who safeguarded Ukraine’s independence in 2014 and again in 2022, driven by their hearts, even when lacking proper training; those who have become true military professionals today.

I congratulate every Ukrainian volunteer on our day and thank you for the choice you have made, for the responsibility you have taken, and for standing your ground despite the hardships of this difficult path. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Ukrainian volunteers!

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

They want to convince us that our country does not belong to us. That the outcome is predetermined and everything has already been decided for us. That someone will reach an agreement and everything will return to normal. They try to break Ukrainians by creating the illusion that we are all doomed and that further fighting is pointless.

Remember: it was the same exactly three years ago. But back then, Ukraine endured despite all forecasts, estimates, and efforts to persuade us to capitulate. We fought back with a determination that surprised both our enemies and our allies. That was the work of our warriors, who stopped enemy columns, often lacking adequate training but knowing why they fought and what was at stake. That was the work of thousands of Ukrainians who took up arms for the first time on February 24, 2022.

The survival of our state was not the result of international agreements but the outcome of the titanic daily efforts of thousands of fighters on the front lines.

While besieged by Russian forces in Mariupol, we could not have cared less about those who considered Ukraine doomed to defeat, waiting for us to give up our territories and our independence. Each of us carried out our duty decisively and selflessly, despite analysts' skepticism and attempts to sow despair among Ukrainians. In fierce battles against enemy forces that outnumbered us, we knew that the fate of our country was not decided in distant high-level offices but right there — on the battlefield. And we proved to be right.

Three years later, we still hold that belief. Looking back at the difficult journey we have made, we realize we have much to be proud of, and we know exactly who and what we are fighting for.

Over these three years, Ukraine has remained independent thanks to its military, reinforced by the unwavering support of volunteers and citizens who support it financially. Therefore, today, the fate of our country still depends on those whose efforts hold the front lines.

The courage of Ukrainian soldiers is envied by desk generals in every army in the world. The bravery and selflessness of Ukraine’s resistance are honored by millions. A new military doctrine, a new geopolitical reality, and a new chapter in history are being written in the trenches — where Ukrainian soldiers bring peace closer with every precise strike on enemy targets.

[Denys Prokopenko @D_Redis]

It has always been this way: only the brave are respected, only the influential are listened to, and only the strong are considered important.

Since 1991, Ukraine's enemies have done everything in their power to make our country weak, fragmented, toothless, and dependent. In 2013, Ukraine began to awaken and build its muscles, finally recognizing the need to assert its agency. It would be naive to assume that building this agency would be painless, and expecting someone else to pave the way to this goal would be an even greater mistake.

For eleven years, we have relied on half-measures to fight a war against a country with an advantage in population and resources. Moreover, for three years, Ukraine has endured a full-scale invasion by one of the world’s most combat-effective military forces. The daily feats of Ukrainian soldiers should inspire us and prevent us from despairing despite any statements made by foreign politicians, analysts, and experts. The frontline should always have the last word.

Of course, we have not succeeded in every area, and much work remains ahead. Indeed, we put our trust in empty promises and gave away our nuclear weapons, critically weakening the country’s defensive capabilities. However, Ukraine has already achieved the impossible. Ukraine’s resistance to Russian occupation, the courage and strength of its military, our strong horizontal public relations, and our diplomats’ skills have already secured a place in history for our country. This is where the real Ukrainian agency comes from. And this is what vexes those who perceive a strong and independent Ukraine as a thorn in their side.

Nothing in today’s information environment should divert us from the path we have chosen. The same goes for those who eagerly began preparing for political games and illusory elections — under no circumstances should Ukrainians pay attention to them. All focus and strength must go to the frontline.

Desperation arises when circumstances force people to stop fighting for their cause. But that is not about us. We hold our lines, and we destroy the occupiers!