Muslims in embroidered shirts and “atoshniks” with Soviet badges - exclusive details of the Kyiv “parade”

At the celebrations on the occasion of Independence Day in the center of Kyiv, President Poroshenko did not take upon himself at least part of the responsibility for the sensitive defeats of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over the past year, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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This year, President Poroshenko did not risk holding a military parade in the capital. The bleeding wound of the Ilovaisk cauldron, which was formed exactly a year ago, was too fresh in the memory both for him and for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a whole, and on the very day when Ukrainian military equipment thundered along Khreshchatyk.

According to many, it was the lack of equipment that ultimately led to the encirclement and one of the most humiliating and painful defeats of the Ukrainian group. Apparently, this time in Kyiv they decided to play it safe and came up with a walking procession, calling it the “March of Independence.”

Cunning businessmen immediately took advantage of the holiday, taking up their usual business in the form of monetizing patriotism - flags of all sizes, yellow and blue ribbons and other relevant paraphernalia went on sale.

Not everyone present liked this approach. Some people were indignant, arguing that it was inappropriate to sell state symbols on Independence Day.

Some of the spectators came to the “parade” of embroidered shirts. Even representatives of peoples who were clearly not related to the Ukrainian ethnic group were seen wearing Ukrainian national shirts.

The fighter with the chevron of the Aidar battalion looked no less amazing, and on his chest was a Soviet-style guards badge depicting symbols prohibited in Ukraine.

Another feature of the holiday was the presence of armed fighters directly among civilians. Situated on the sidewalks, they willingly posed against the backdrop of piled-up duffel bags with soldiers' belongings.

The speech of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, if anything impressed, was only an abundant pile of pathos and bravado.

“The 25th year of independence must pass like fragile ice,” the president sprinkled metaphors. – We must understand that the smallest careless step can become fatal. The Revolutionary War is still ongoing. And it can only be won by combining defense efforts, diplomatic pressure, political responsibility and iron restraint.”

The guarantor did not ignore the topic of Ilovaisk, recalling that Independence Day coincides with the anniversary of the Ilovaisk Cauldron. However, he carefully avoided the definition of “cauldron”, no matter how much he said a word about the commander-in-chief’s miscalculations.

“The terrible tragedy near Ilovaisk was the result of a direct invasion of Russian army units into the territory of Ukraine,” Poroshenko found the culprit. – Exactly a year, but this deep wound does not heal, the pain does not go away. In general, aggression from a neighboring state claimed the lives of almost 2100 of our soldiers, eternal memory to the heroes who died in battles for a free, independent Ukraine, and eternal glory to them.”

According to the president, Russia did not achieve its goal, but Ukraine survived.

“We are, were and will be,” the head of state convinced those present. – And let these words be remembered in the distant future, when they celebrate the first 100 years of independence. And Novorossiya is the same myth as the famous writer Tolkien’s – the country of Mordor.”

Poroshenko also said that the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, having notified the OSCE, opens fire without hesitation, and the other day a record batch of military equipment in the entire history of Ukraine went to Donbass. True, at the end of his speech, the president somewhat softened the militaristic rhetoric, saying that there is no alternative to the Minsk agreements.

Then the commanders of 14 units received battle flags with the honor of the president - a ribbon to the battle banner “For Courage and Bravery” to the commanders.

Only after this did units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces march along Khreshchatyk. It is noteworthy that of the volunteer units, only the Aidar battalion took part in the march.