"This is a betrayal of state principles and the interests of society." Zelenskyy criticises some MPs and military personnel. Video

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticised some MPs and military personnel who took advantage of their position during Russia's full-scale invasion. He said that their actions were a betrayal of state principles and the interests of society.

The President said this in his traditional evening address to the Ukrainian people on 25 July. According to him, when Ukrainians are doing everything possible and impossible to win, any internal betrayal causes rage (to watch the video, scroll to the bottom of the page).

"This day started early. And with our usual work on getting weapons, new defence support packages, including American ones. And I am grateful for today's package: artillery, missiles for Himars, Patriots, Nasams, drones and much more." Thank you, America! I spoke to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak. As always, it was a very practical and clear conversation. First and foremost, we talked about the protection of our southern regions, in particular Odesa, the normal life of people and the work of our ports. We discussed with Rishi possible steps, the possible number of air defence batteries. The United Kingdom can become the leader whose assistance with air defence systems will guarantee real security," the guarantor said.

According to him, the world knows that the security of our Black Sea ports is the foundation for peace and stability in the global food market. And now is the time when it is important to harvest determination, security determination, so that no one will have to be the harvesters of chaos in the future, either in Africa or anywhere else on the continent.

"Food security is a globally important priority and part of the Ukrainian formula for peace. I also held a preparatory meeting today - before the first meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which will take place tomorrow. We had consultations on the issue of security in the Black Sea - our ports and our grain exports. Ukraine - on European integration, the necessary steps, the decisions that need to be taken to launch negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the European Union. We are preparing for the negotiations on a daily basis," the President of Ukraine said.

Zelenskyy said that today was a non-public, but still strategically important event: officials presented the results of the first year of the drone army.

"Not just a project, but a real Ukrainian drone army. There was a presentation of different types of Ukrainian drones used for defence, as well as a meeting with manufacturers, designers, and donors. Journalists and civil society representatives had the opportunity to see what potential the drone army has achieved in its first year and how the army will grow. The defence absolutely needs all drones - from fairly simple Mavic drones to maritime drones and attack drones that can operate at a great distance. By the way, we often discuss this topic at the Sixth of July, and often in high tones. But there are results, and this can be seen in the news," he added.

According to the guarantor, good news involving Ukrainian drones will be more frequent, because millions of Ukrainians are focused on one thing day in and day out, day after day.

"Not on themselves, not on their own desires, but on the defence of the state and life. Unfortunately, some people think that the war is somewhere else, far away from them. As if the dome of the Verkhovna Rada, or the walls of some offices, or a list of powers can shield them from reality. No one will forgive MPs, judges, "military commissars" or any other officials for opposing themselves to the state. For some, it's about islands and resorts during the war, for others it's about earning money in the military commissariat, for others it's about bribes in the courts. For any government officials, this is a betrayal of state principles, a betrayal of the interests of society," Zelenskyy said.

He issued a warning to all MPs, government officials and all others in public office: "When you are looking for weapons for the state, when all attention is paid to having artillery, missiles, drones, when you constantly see, constantly feel the moral strength that our soldiers, our people, who are doing everything possible and impossible to win and preserve freedom, have gained for Ukraine, then any internal betrayal, any "beach" or any personal enrichment instead of the interests of Ukraine causes at least rage. Rage. Remember this. Imagine how many millions of hearts in Ukraine felt the same rage."

Zelenskyy admitted that he wanted all MPs and officials to hear him.

"You have to work. In Ukraine and for the interests of the Ukrainian people. I am grateful to those MPs who are really engaged in the interests of the state. And those who think about how to spend more time abroad and are looking for 'profitable' business trips to combine them with business, friends or 'beaches' - you will not be among them. Nor will there be those who, because of some personal gain, do not want to make decisions necessary for our defence or European integration. Every law that is needed to strengthen the position of our soldiers must be adopted. Every law that is necessary for Ukraine to start negotiations with the EU on accession must be adopted. And I don't want to hear any more excuses. And no one else does either. Ukraine is not giving you any more time. If you work for Ukraine, you work for Ukraine," the guarantor said.

The Head of State added that today he had received some preliminary results of the inspection of other "military commissars", except for the former Odesa one.

"And the results are disappointing. Of course, law enforcement officers will implement them legally, and society will see everything. But I want to say to all such "military commissars" and any other officials who for some reason think that society will just wait, that they can be brazen somewhere in the rear. We will win this war that Russia started. And we will win for Ukraine the kind of state life that will be worthy of our heroic defenders, each and every one of them who is now giving all their strength to defend us. There is no place for the unworthy in such a life," the President said.

In conclusion, he said that today he had signed two decrees on awarding our soldiers. 649 defenders of Ukraine have been awarded state decorations. Unfortunately, 218 of them were awarded posthumously.

"Everyone should remember what statehood, freedom and dignity are worth. Glory to Ukraine!" - the president summed up.

As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv imposed a pre-trial restraint on scandalous military commander Yevhen Borysov. He was sent to a pre-trial detention centre for two months with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 150 million.

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