OREANDA-NEWS. President Petro Poroshenko greeted Ukrainians on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine.

The military parade was held in the central street of the country capital – Khreshchatyk Street – on the Independence Day. President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,  Petro Poroshenko reviewed the troops.

The President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda, who arrived on a visit to Ukraine, took part in the festive event. The Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman were also present on the central platform.

The event began with a solemn ceremony of raising the National Flag of Ukraine. The main Ukrainian flag was raised by the standard-bearing group consisting of 3 branches of the armed forces. The AFU combined orchestra played the National Anthem. The anthem was accompanied with an artillery salute of 10 salvos.

After the solemn flying of the National Flag and the singing of the Anthem, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Army General Stepan Poltorak heard the report of the Commander of the Independence Parade – the Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine Serhiy Popko, and then reported to the President of Ukraine the troops were ready for the review.

The Head of State addressed the servicemen partaking in the parade: “You have displayed heroism defending our native Ukrainian land. You demonstrate examples of courage and self-sacrifice every day. Now, you will be marching with confidence along Khreshchatyk Street. Demonstrating your soldierly appearance, emanating the strength and courage, you will infuse still more belief in the combat capacity of our troops, their capability to defend the country into millions of our compatriots.”

The parade participants paid tribute to the deceased Ukrainian heroes who sacrificed their lives in the combats for free, independent Ukraine. During the minute of silence, the mournful folk song “Plyve kacha” was played.

The Head of State awarded the high state decorations – the Golden Star of the Hero of Ukraine  - to the two officers of the Armed Forces and the rank of Major General to Ihor Hordiychuk – Headmaster of Kyiv Military College after Ivan Bohun, and presented the colours to the commanders of 18 military units partaking and having distinguished themselves in the military operations in the east of Ukraine.

The colours were also handed over to the Ukrainian military detachments by Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Army General Stepan Poltorak, Head of the General Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Army General Victor Muzhenko, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Grytsak, Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Yuriy Allerov, Head of the State Frontier Guard Service of Ukraine, Colonel General Victor Nazarenko.

After the colours presentation ceremony, the Head of State started the military parade on the occasion of the 25the anniversary of the Independence of Ukraine.

First, the columns of the parade crews marched to the music played by the consolidated wind orchestra and the military choir. Then, the consolidated mechanized column of vehicles continued the parade rolling along Khreshchatyk Street to an ovation.

Upon the Parade, the Head of State talked to the servicemen who had marched along Khreshchatyk Street. He thanked them for great professionalism and noted the Ukrainian Army enjoys high degree of public trust. “The times, when Ukraine was left without the army, would never return. This is a thing of the past. The army will always be my number one priority,” - Petro Poroshenko said.