The volunteers did the vital thing - they gave the ideological basis for the Ukrainian army, for Ukrainian security, they gave the spirit that was so lacking at that time, - the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy during the celebrations in honor of the Ukrainian Volunteer Day

On March 14, there took place festivities on the Ukrainian Volunteer Day in the territory of the military unit No. 3066 of the Northern Territorial Command of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy, congratulating the audience on the occasion of the holiday, noted that the day when "four years ago, almost 700 volunteers of the Maidan's defense lined up on Maidan and solemnly went to Petrivtsi, broke the course of history".

“And it did break the course of history not only of Ukraine, but also influenced the whole world politics, because the attack went to Ukraine from all directions," he specified.

“To my great regret, Yanukovych managed to destroy the Ukrainian army, weaken law enforcement agencies, and destroy the Ukrainian economy, noted the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada. Unfortunately, Ukraine was defenseless against Russian invasion. But Putin did not count one thing - the spirit of volunteers, your spirit, which broke all his plans. And immediately after the Maidan… when we suffered great losses… but when the challenge came, it was the time when all the fighters of the Maidan’s defense just demanded from me, as from the commander, that I gave them the opportunity to fight. Many said then that if there would not be created proper conditions for participation in the army… they did know where there were military warehouses, where there were weapons and they would go to defend our country, and would stop the enemy  wherever possible”.

The Chairman of the Parliament said that Arsen Avakov, Oleksandr Turchynov had decided to establish the National Guard of Ukraine to give a format for attracting volunteers.

On March 13, he reported on that ‘volunteer’ law from the rostrum of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.  And the law was passed. That very same evening, there gathered those volunteer centurions who had a craving for taking the field. Much more time a full-time training then needed, but Ukraine did not have the time.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada recalled the circumstances of those days when there was not enough equipment, weapons, food, and body armor, but there was a real Ukrainian spirit. According to A.Parubiy, volunteers then  "did the main thing - they gave the ideological basis for the Ukrainian army, for the Ukrainian security, they gave the spirit that, unfortunately, was so lacking at that time by the military cadres who had been serving in the Ukrainian army for decades”.

“They gave the spirit of victory, before which Russian mercenaries and Russian troops fell.  And, in fact, the spirit of the volunteers broke the course of history.  If Ukraine fell, we do not know where Putin's hordes would reach. We stopped them and saved not only Ukraine, but the whole civilized world. Twice we have showed Putin his feebleness - at the Maidan and ATO. The enormous empire, in front of which the whole world is still trembling with fear, has twice suffered a fundamental defeat from you, from Ukrainian volunteers, from the Ukrainian nation,” he said.

The Chair of the Ukrainian Parliament stressed that these are the things that affect the whole world history.

And the Volunteer Day is the day from which we count out the days of our victories, the days of our rest. Great thanks to all those who have gone through this battle, which gave a heroic example to millions of others, an example of uncompromising stand and an example of victory, he said.

A.Parubiy stressed that the war must be completed - "In memory of those who gave their lives for Ukraine, we must bring the day when the occupied Crimea, the occupied Donetsk and the occupied Luhansk will be liberated".

"And this is our goal. Not political talk on this topic, because the shortest path to peace - through capitulation. “Four years ago, we could go this way, but we embarked on a different path - the path of free people, the way of struggle and victory. It is our duty before our brothers and before Ukraine to liberate our lands. On the flag of the battalion, on the flag of the whole volunteer movement, the word "Victory" has always been in golden letters.  Victory to Ukraine!  Glory to Ukraine!”

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine completed his speech and together with the Minister of Internal Affairs presented the decorations of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Guard to fighters who participated in the liberation of Ukraine. During the event, there was held the official opening of the museum of the military unit No.3066.

Participants of the celebrations honored the memory of the dead soldiers who defended Ukraine.

In attendance of the festivities, there were Arsen Avakov, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mykola Balan, the deputy Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, members of the Ukrainian Parliament, invited servicemen, representatives of the clergy.