Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov has addressed Ukrainians on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Kruty Heroes.

"A hundred years ago, a new page was written into the history of the Ukrainian liberation movement. Brave young patriots wrote it with their own blood, starting an unequal battle with the Russian-Bolshevik horde and stopping the enemy's offensive on Kyiv for critically important four days. Volunteers were defeated in this battle, and 27 of them were captured and shot. At that time, in the distant 1918, through discord and the lack of unity, we lost the country for more than 70 years, but despite this, we preserved the spirit of freedom and faith in Ukraine," reads a statement released by the NSDC's press service on Monday.

Turchynov stressed that today Ukrainians are repeating the feat of the Krut heroes.

"Now we are again writing new pages of the history of Ukraine, and again with blood... With the blood of the best sons and daughters of the fatherland... Eternal memory and respect for the fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives defending Ukraine!" he said.

Turchynov also noted that today, like a century ago, Ukrainians on the front lines save their country, defending the right of their state to independence and European choice.

"Freedom is impossible without struggle, and a state is impossible without an awareness of its value. Therefore the heroism and courage of our soldiers, every Ukrainian and all of us together, should not leave the occupiers a chance... Step by step we will free our land from the aggressor, and walk our path until the victorious end! God is with us, our heroes are with us, the truth is with us, and victory will be with us! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!" the statement says.