Today we remember the most tragic pages of our history - the events of World War II. In it, Ukraine suffered large-scale and painful losses. The most terrible and shocking were the human casualties. World War II claimed the lives of one in five Ukrainians. In fact, there is no Ukrainian family that has not been affected by this terrible tragedy.
The consequences of this war for Ukraine were no less devastating. The territory of our state was turned into a real battlefield. Many Ukrainian towns and villages were completely destroyed. Thousands of houses were destroyed. Millions of people have lost their homes over these terrible years.
The tragic events of the Second World War are a wound that will forever remain in the memory of our people. From Lviv to Kharkiv, from Chernihiv to Odesa, from Kyiv to Sevastopol - we are all united by a common pain.
Today, on Remembrance and Reconciliation Day, we honor the feat of our people, who made a significant contribution to the victory over Nazism. We thank all the defenders who defended their land from the enemy. The courage and bravery they have shown continue to be an example for us today.
Thanks and respect to the veterans of the Second World War!