"The Ukrainian nation has united in the face of the threat and defends its right to its own future," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, emphasized in his welcoming speech at the opening of the V International Forum "Where we are, there is Ukraine. Defenders Roll call".
The Speaker of the Parliament noted the fifth in the count, but the first in such difficult conditions: "180 days ago, the Ukrainian people stood up for the defense of our state and demonstrated such unity and strength of spirit that shocked the whole world."
"The historical unity demonstrated by our indomitable people rests on a solid foundation, the basis of which is our military, veterans, and volunteers." Ruslan Stefanchuk noted.
He added that this is the foundation that the aggressor did not take into account in his calculations: "This is the foundation that allowed The Armed Forces of Ukraine will thwart his blitzkrieg plans and achieve incredible success already in the first months of the war."
According to the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the main role in this success was played by veterans. At the beginning of the large-scale war numbered almost 500 thousand: "The vast majority of them again stood up for the defense of the country, and now they form the backbone of military units participating in hostilities."
In addition, Ruslan Stefanchuk emphasized that volunteers, who were able to organize themselves into numerous volunteer organizations and formed a powerful volunteer movement, fulfield a colossal role in ensuring the resistance of the Ukrainian military for the eighth year in a row.
"There is hardly any other country where, thanks to the indifference and support of ordinary citizens, volunteers buy everything, from armored cars to a space satellite for the needs of the army," the Speaker of the Parliament emphasized.
Ruslan Stefanchuk noted that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is trying to respond in a timely manner to the main challenges and threats related to the legislative regulation of the activities of the veteran and volunteer movement. He noted that the range of persons classified as combatants and persons with disabilities as a result of the war has significantly expanded. From January 1, 2023, the Law on monthly cash payments to persons who participated in the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and were awarded state awards, or to members of their families, will enter into force. Comprehensive amendments to legislation aimed at supporting volunteer activity, changes to its taxation, and a separate law that will soon allow full-fledged operation of the chaplaincy service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were also adopted.
"Only the joint work of the authorities, veteran and volunteer movements will make it possible to continue to preserve the historical unity of the Ukrainian people and our more than thousand-year-old statehood, as well as to defeat the aggressor and build a truly independent and successful Ukrainian state," the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, emphasized at the end.