Dear Ukrainians, brothers and sisters!

Please accept my sincere congratulations on the bright holiday of Christmas! It is the day of hope and good expectations, which we celebrate with the birthday of Jesus.

How do we honor the newborn God?

Some with gold and one little drummer from the famous Christmas song, having nothing more valuable than the rhythm of his drum.

What will we give?

What is the most valuable thing we have to present to God and the world today - amid war, sadness, daily anxiety, and loss?

Our resilience! Our firm determination not to obey the forces of evil, our sacrifice, our unity, and faith that the Good is worth fighting for!

Ukraine has become the name and symbol of this struggle for a free world and all people of goodwill. And we have nothing more valuable than this name and this symbol.

Ukraine is a symbol that embodies our children and parents, our history and plans, our culture, our understanding of justice and freedom, and our values and ideals.

Behind this is the daily heroism and sacrifice of my brothers and sisters in uniform on all fronts and the dedicated work of those who hold the home front.

May all of us have light in these stormy yet festive days, and may the Lord protect us and sustain our victorious Hope and Faith in a deserved just and fair future, protected from enemies from without and from scoundrels within.

May every next Christmas be merry and every New Year be happy!

And may it be so!

Chief of the Defence Intelligence
of Ukraine
Lieutenant GeneralKyrylo Budanov