On Tuesday, May 23, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the front and met with servicemen.

“Our defenders. Frontline. Today I am here to congratulate our warriors on the Day of the Ukrainian Marines. Glory to everyone who defends Ukraine!” Zelenskyy said on the Telegram channel.

According to the press service of the head of state, Zelenskyy visited the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Vuhledar –Maryinka defense zone in Donetsk region.

"Every day on the battlefield, the Ukrainian Navy proves that it is a powerful force that destroys the enemy, liberates Ukrainian lands, and performs the most difficult tasks in the most difficult conditions. And we need more of this force. That is why from today we are significantly increasing the potential of the Navy and creating the Navy Corps," the President said.

According to Zelenskyy, new brigades will be formed and provided with modern equipment and weapons.

The President also presented state awards. The Head of State awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and presented the Order of the Gold Star to Colonel Yuriy Andriyenko and Colonel Mykola Palas for personal courage and heroism in the defense of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people.

For personal courage and selfless actions in the defense of Ukraine, Zelenskyy awarded the warriors with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the I, II and III degrees, the Orders For Courage of the II and III degrees, the Orders of Princess Olga of the III degree and the Order of Danylo Halytsky.

In addition, in order to recognize the high professionalism, combat merit, courage and bravery of the personnel of military units, the Head of State presented the Presidential Award For Courage and Bravery to the Navy Command of the Military-Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the 35th separate naval brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradsky and its units: the 18th separate naval battalion and the 137th separate naval battalion, as well as the 406th separate artillery brigade named after Lieutenant General Oleksiy Almazov and the 140th separate reconnaissance battalion.

Zelenskyy also conferred the rank of Brigadier General to Colonel Oleksiy Androsov, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Navy of the Military-Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.