Zelenskyy marks independence day from Soviet Union vowing to fight for and defend Ukraine

Ukraine connected Sunday marked Independence Day, commemorating its 1991 declaration of independency from nan Soviet Union pinch President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowing to conflict to take sides nan country.

In a defiant speech, Zelensky said, each day, Kyiv was pushing backmost against Russian forces to guarantee bid successful Ukraine.

"Today, Ukraine celebrates Independence Day. Fighting, defending itself against attacks and alarms. And, very importantly, not alone. Every day, we are pushing this warfare backmost to wherever it came from, to nan Russian entity and Russian soil," he said successful a speech.

"With each passing twelvemonth of this war, nan unit connected Russia and their existent losses are increasing," he added, stressing that bid is "coming."

US typical envoy Keith Kellogg and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney were portion of nan dignitaries astatine nan anniversary.

Zelenskyy and Carney motion defence agreement

Kellogg was successful attendance astatine nan celebrations successful Kyiv, during which Zelenskyy awarded him nan Ukrainian Order of Merit, of nan first degree, while astatine a abstracted event, Ukrainian officials and their Canadian counterparts signed an statement aimed astatine deepening bilateral defence-industrial cooperation.

At a associated briefing, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced subject assistance to Kyiv worthy 2 cardinal Canadian dollars (1.3 bn Euro).

"We're investing coming $2 cardinal successful caller subject assistance for Ukraine. Eight 100 cardinal of this will thief fortify Ukraine's arsenal for nan astir urgently needed defense equipment—drones, ammunition, and armoured vehicles," said Carney.

"And we had a chat coming astir specifying and targeting that assistance wherever it will person nan top impact, and we will do so."

According to Zelenskyy, nan signed statement by nan Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal and nan Minister of National Defence of Canada David McGinty connected expanding and creating caller accumulation accommodation successful Ukraine and Canada will fortify Ukraine's stableness and expertise to antagonistic nan Russian threat.

Zelensky besides suggested that Canada subordinate important power projects; nan power ministers of nan countries will talk this.

68th captive speech completed

Meanwhile, different captive speech took spot betwixt Ukraine and Russia connected Sunday, nan 68th since nan warfare collapsed out.

According to Zelenskyy, isolated from subject personnel, 8 Ukrainian civilians besides returned location arsenic exchanges proceed connected some sides.

All released defence unit beryllium to nan ranks of privates and sergeants. Almost each of them spent much than 3 years successful captivity.

The servicemen who returned coming defended nan cities of Mariupol, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and Sumy and guarded nan Chernobyl atomic powerfulness plant, Ukrainian authorities said.

Among them was a erstwhile politician of Kherson Volodymyr Mykolayenko.

And, arsenic reported by nan Coordination Headquarters for nan Treatment of Prisoners of War and Freedom, 2 Ukrainian journalists, Dmytro Khylyuk and Mark Kaliush, were besides freed.

The liberated Ukrainians will person a afloat scope of basal aesculapian examinations and due treatment, according to Kyiv.