Ukraine will always remember all those whose lives were taken by the Russian war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said on the Day of Remembrance of Defenders of Ukraine.

"Today, Ukraine honors the memory of all its defenders. All those who fought for our state, for Ukrainian independence and sacrificed the most precious thing – their lives," he said on the Telegram channel on Thursday.

The head of state recalled that ten years ago, in August 2014, the Russian occupiers committed one of the vilest crimes of this war – they killed hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers near Ilovaisk.

"This was a planned, cynical Russian crime that Ukraine will never forget and will not leave unpunished," he said.

Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine will always remember each and every one whose life was taken by this war.

"And we will not forgive Russia for a single destroyed Ukrainian life," he said.

Zelensky honored the memory of the heroes and thanked everyone who does not forget, who honors and helps the relatives of fallen Ukrainian soldiers.