President's wife: More than 31,000 defendresses safeguarding peace in Ukraine

President's wife Olena Zelenska congratulated defendresses of Ukraine on their holiday.

“Today we celebrate the Day of Defenders and Defendresses of Ukraine for the first time! We have all long been accustomed to the fact that the role of defender is always confidently performed by men. Women get the roles of those who need to be defended. Earlier, women's contribution to the defense of Ukraine took second place. And this, in my opinion, is unfair," Zelenska posted on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

To date, more than 31,000 women serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine alone, Zelenska said, noting that they, along with men, safeguard peace and order in our country.

"It is time to recognize this equality and be proud of the fact that Ukraine equally respects men and women who defend the Motherland," Zelenska stressed.

As reported, the Day of Defenders and Defendresses of Ukraine is a public holiday celebrated on October 14. It was officially established on October 14, 2014, by a presidential decree entitled “The Day of Defender of Ukraine”. On July 12, 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine renamed the holiday into the Day of Defenders and Defendresses of Ukraine.

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