Arseniy Yatsenyuk to the National Guard officers: Russia has changed global agenda but we were first to be at the frontline of the struggle for rights, freedoms and our country

On Thursday, March 24, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk took part in the festive events dedicated to the second anniversary of the National Guard of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister presented the award dirk to Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine - the General-Lieutenant Yurii Allerov. For the weighty personal contribution to strengthening of rule of law and order, exemplary performance of official duties, for their initiative and professionalism the decorations were conferred on eight officers of the National Guard of Ukraine.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk congratulated the participants on the second anniversary of the establishment of the National Guard: "The National Guard defends the nation that is fighting against Russian aggression for their own country. The nation that showed the entire world and the entire Europe that they are strong people."

The Head of Government reminded that two years ago the National Guard had been actually created from scratch: "The new country put to the National Guard new challenges and tasks."

New challenges, according to him, appear the new challenges not just for Ukraine but for the whole world: "Who could have thought a few years ago that the determining factor for the international politics all around the globe would be the rule of force, instead of the rule of law?"

Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that the Russian Federation had violated international law, illegally annexed Ukrainian territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, seized the Donetsk and Luhansk and made an attempt "to capture Ukraine and to destroy it as an independent state, which is based on the spirit of the freedom of the Ukrainian citizen": "Russia has changed global agenda but we were first to be at the frontline of the struggle for rights, freedoms and our country ".

The Head of Government stressed that Ukraine protects also the European borders: "Our European partners should not just be aware of it, but to commend and support."

He reminded that international partners provide assistance to the National Guard, in particular in training, "helping the Ukrainian National Guard to become stronger and more effective".

Arseniy Yatsenyuk accentuated the Government had increased threefold the funding for the National Guard – up to about UAH 10 billion. The Cabinet of Ministers upped almost twofold the salary position of officers of the National Guard and equated the level of cash security of the military personnel of the National Guard and the AFU.

However, the most important thing, he said, is "45 thousand Ukrainian boys and girls who joined the ranks of the National Guard".

Arseniy Yatsenyuk expressed gratitude to the officers of the National Guard: "Our common mission is to defend our country and our citizens, to prove to everyone that we are a strong and proud nation. And you as the National Guard are performing this sacred duty. I know that each of you, swearing allegiance to the Ukrainian people, wasn’t just reading the text, but realizing that everyone believes in and is doing everything you were pronouncing in the oath".