President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree establishing a Naval Academy in Odesa. He announced the decision during a meeting with Ukrainian Navy servicemen on the eve of Ukrainian Navy Day, the President’s Office reported.
According to Zelensky, the academy is needed by Ukraine’s Navy because the fleet has not only theoretical knowledge, but also real combat experience that must be passed on to a new generation of naval officers.
“I know that our Navy has this need, that there is the relevant capacity and, accordingly, the desire — most importantly — among our cadets and our youth to serve Ukraine and defend Ukraine. And our Navy has experience — not just theory, but practical experience. It is very important that this knowledge is passed on to all our cadets, to the new generation. We will definitely implement all these tasks”, the president said.
During the meeting, Zelensky also announced the creation of a new brigade of mine countermeasure vessels. It will operate at sea and, if necessary, will be able to help partners guarantee security.
The president stressed that Ukraine has unique combat experience that can become the basis for new security guarantees for its allies.
“This is our advantage over many in Europe: we can turn our Ukrainian experience, professionalism and military expertise into the basis of new security guarantees for those who have helped and continue to help us”, Zelensky said.
The head of state thanked the naval servicemen for defending Ukraine against Russian drones and missiles, and also praised the effectiveness of Marine Corps units fighting on the most difficult fronts. According to the president, Ukraine’s Marine Corps is the largest and most experienced in Europe.
Zelensky also said that Ukraine’s Navy, together with other components of the Defense Forces, had achieved what many considered impossible: Russia lost the Black Sea.
“Russia has lost the Black Sea, and starting with the liberation of Snake Island and continuing with our operations against the Russian fleet, Russian ports and occupation forces in our Ukrainian Crimea, we are proving that this space — the Black Sea space and the Azov space — will definitely not be a place of calm for Russia”, the president emphasized.
Zelensky separately thanked the Navy for developing its missile capabilities. He mentioned the coastal missile brigade, thanks to which Harpoons and Neptunes are effectively countering the Russian fleet and taking part in Ukraine’s deep strikes.
During the meeting, the president awarded 25 Navy servicemen with state honors. Among them were the Cross of Military Merit, the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III class, For Courage II–III classes and Danylo Halytskyi, as well as medals For Military Service to Ukraine.
The head of state also presented the battle flag to the 12th Brigade of Landing Craft of the Ukrainian Navy Flotilla, and the “For Courage and Bravery” distinction ribbons to the 65th and 68th separate coastal missile battalions of the 360th Separate Coastal Missile Brigade.
The memory of Ukrainian men and women who gave their lives in the fight for Ukraine was honored with a minute of silence.
