Celebrations have mostly been arranged in Kressatik in downtown Kiev, where 2,300 soldiers attended the independence march, according to 112.ua.
President Petro Poroshenko delivered a speech during the Independence March, focusing his speech on the conflict in Donbass, noting that 2,100 Ukrainian servicemen have so far been killed as a result of the Russian aggression against the country.
“Independence Day almost coincides with the anniversary of the terrible tragedy at Ilovaysk, which was the result of a direct intervention of the Russian army in the territory of Ukraine. Exactly one year has passed, but the wound has not healed, the pain has not subsided. In general, the aggression by the neighboring state claimed the lives of nearly 2,100 Ukrainian soldiers,” said the president.
Note that, on August 18, 2014, Ukrainian troops seized most of Ilovaysk. As a result , 366 servicemen were killed, 429 wounded.
Poroshenko noted that there are about 40,000 armed militants in the occupied territories of Donbass and that 9,000 of them are Russian soldiers. Russian armed groups near our east borders today already number in more than 50,000. The head of state added that Russian has not yet given up the idea of directly intervening deep into Ukraine, noting that 210,000 people were called to active duty in six mobilizations. He also said the Ukrainian army is still being equipped with new military hardware and vehicles and that by the end of this year another 300 armed vehicles, 400 military vehicles, 30,000 missiles and ammunition will be given.
Following his speech, Poroshenko had a talk with people gathering in the Independence Square.
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