On October 1, 2025, the staff of the Embassy of Ukraine to the Republic of Tajikistan, together with diplomats of partner countries, the Ukrainian community, and representatives of the Tajik media, thanked the soldiers who defend the land, freedom, and future of Ukraine, and honored the memory of the heroes who died for independence.

Ambassador of Ukraine Valerii Yevdokymov noted that "today, it is the successes of the defenders of Ukraine that determine diplomatic trends on the path to peace. Modern soldiers multiply and develop the thousand-year-old Ukrainian military traditions, write new pages of the history of Ukraine. The Ukrainian army has become one of the most combat-ready in the world."

The Day of Defenders of Ukraine is a holiday that was established as a response to Russian aggression in 2014, but has its roots in the centuries-old history and traditions of Ukrainians.

Speech by Ambassador of Ukraine Valerii Yevdokymov to the Day of Defenders of Ukraine

Esteemed ambassadors, colleagues, friends!

When Russia insidiously seized Crimea in 2014 and then invaded the Eastern regions of Ukraine, we were unable to mount sufficient resistance, as no one expected such a war in the twenty-first century. Our army was unprepared; everyone assured us that it was unnecessary – and we believed this, signing the Budapest Memorandum.

However, when Russia launched a full-scale offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian defenders mounted a decisive rebuff to the enemy and, even before receiving military assistance from partners, compelled the occupiers to retreat from the capital with enormous losses.

They sacrifice their health and lives so that others can live ordinary lives - working, creating, resting, and raising children.

Today, it is precisely the successes of Ukraine's defenders that are shaping diplomatic trends on the path toward peace.

The Day of Defenders and Defendresses is, above all, a celebration of those who uphold independence. On this day, we honor modern defenders and defendresses of Ukraine, as well as Ukrainian heroes from all the times.

Modern warriors are augmenting and developing the millennia-old Ukrainian military traditions, inscribing new pages in the history of Ukraine. Our army has become one of the most combat-capable in the world.

With each passing day, more and more people around the world affirm that Ukrainian defenders are protecting not only Ukraine, but also the peace and democracy of modern civilization.

We say thanks to our warriors for their courage, victory, and self-sacrifice!

We say thanks to our international partners for their support!

Glory to Ukraine!