On the Day of the Worker of the Defense-Industrial Complex of Ukraine, a ceremony was held to honor the memory of fallen industry workers, with the participation of Serhiy Byzov, head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine. The ceremony took place at the site of the future memorial in Kyiv, UNN reports.
On April 13, representatives of the government, defense sector, labor collectives, and the public gathered in the capital to pay tribute to those who died working for the defense of the state. The event took place at the site where a Monument of Honor to Fallen Arms Makers is planned to be erected – in Petro Bolbochan Park.
The ceremony was attended by, among others, Herman Smetanin, Director General of "Ukroboronprom", Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Strategic Issues, Serhiy Byzov, Head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, as well as members of labor collectives.
During the ceremony, Serhiy Byzov lit a memorial candle and bowed to the fallen workers of the defense-industrial complex, emphasizing their contribution to strengthening the country's defense capabilities.
"The Day of the Worker of the Defense-Industrial Complex of Ukraine is an opportunity to express gratitude to everyone who stands behind the creation of the state's 'shield and sword'.
We gathered to bow our heads in memory of those who gave the most valuable thing – their lives – for Ukraine. They fought not with weapons in their hands, but with no less heroism and self-sacrifice. At the time of the full-scale war, their professionalism, endurance, and engineering talent became one of the key factors in Ukraine's resilience, its ability to resist aggression, and confidently bring our Victory closer. We bow our heads before the feat of the fallen and thank everyone who continues this crucial work today," Serhiy Byzov noted.
The Federation of Trade Unions emphasizes that the importance of the defense-industrial complex has particularly increased since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainian enterprises were able to quickly reconfigure production, work under constant threat of shelling, and provide the Armed Forces with the necessary weapons and equipment.
A special role in strengthening defense capabilities is played by modern developments of arms manufacturers, including unmanned systems, high-precision weapons, and advanced protection means, which significantly increase the effectiveness of Ukrainian military personnel on the battlefield.