Today the Ukrainian Naval Forces are celebrating their professional holiday.

I congratulate the Ukrainian defenders on the holiday!

For the last two years Ukrainian Naval Forces are experiencing renewal and reforming, traitors dropped out, patriots and professionals showed themselves. Today real men, men of their words, who know what honor and dignity is, keep watching sea borders of our country.

The history of the Ukrainian fleet dates back to the Kievan Rus’: hundreds of years ago glorious ancestors of modern mariners went by the Azov and Black Seas, guarded their lands on the Dnieper, Danube, Don and Volga. Cossacks’ “chaikas” - light and maneuverable - were a true legend of their time. And now the best traditions of the past are living and being multiplied by the sailors of independent Ukraine. Now Ukrainian Naval Forces are moving from the old standards to the modern ones of the NATO.

According to its geographical location, political and economic potential Ukraine is and must be a great maritime country. Ahead is the hard road of reforming and restoring of the greatness of the Ukrainian fleet.

I wish our defenders inspiration and strength on this road, good health and peaceful sky!