Today, the SSU makes a crucial contribution to the defence of Ukraine. Counterintelligence officers, Special Operations Centre ‘A’ servicemen, investigators, cyber experts, operatives, analysts - all SSU staff are united in the effort to bring Ukraine closer to Victory.

Together with our brothers-in-arms from the Security and Defence Forces, we are fighting against the enemy on the frontlines, eliminating invaders and war criminals, conducting unique special operations that change the picture of the war. This is proven by blowing up not only the Crimean bridge, but also many military installations in the depths of the aggressor state.

SSU combat units are fighting in the hottest spots of the frontline. They have destroyed more than USD 1 billion worth of russian armoured vehicles, including over 500 tanks. We are actively working and using UAVs. Our targets include air defence systems and military facilities in the occupied Crimea.

Our unique Sea Baby and Mamai naval drones have hit 8 ships of the russian fleet. This changed the balance of forces in the Black Sea.

The SSU’s recent special operations against three russian oil refineries in volgograd, tuapse and leningrad region were extremely important. These strikes have affected the aggressor significantly, reducing russian exports of petroleum products by at least a third.

We are also taking effective action against both external and internal enemies. For example, the Service has dismantled 47 russian intelligence networks.

These are just a few examples of our work over the year. Overall, the results of our work are numerous and significant. The time will come when we will be able to tell you in detail about our special operations. In the meantime, the SSU is focused on its main objective - to chase the occupiers from our land as quickly as possible.

In these circumstances, the actions of some of the employees of the National Statehood Protection Department are truly outrageous. Unfortunately, the actions taken to combat organized drug crime have not only led to receiving information about the involvement of one of the operators of a media outlet in distribution of drugs, but also to the public dissemination of a video footage.

I stress that such actions are unacceptable and have already led to a number of personnel decisions. Among other things, I submitted a motion to dismiss the head of the SSU’s National Statehood Protection Department, and the President of Ukraine signed the decree on 31 January.

My position is straightforward: the actions of individual employees cannot undermine all the positive achievements of the SSU during the war and cast a shadow on every representative of the Service: both those who are fighting the enemy inside the country and those SSU officers who are giving their lives on the battlefield for Ukraine. All illegal actions must be punished.

I am proud of my SSU brothers-in-arms - those who carry out real combat missions, catch collaborators and traitors, destroy occupiers and fight crime.

This is the true face of an effective and professional Security Service. And I, as the Head of the SSU, will do everything possible to ensure that mass media can work freely in Ukraine. Today, we are not only building a renewed SSU, but we are also protecting democratic values, including freedom of speech and independence of the media. For me personally, this is now a top priority!

This is what makes our country different from the authoritarian russia. And this will be the case further on. Because we will make every effort to win and leave our children a free and safe, developed and democratic Ukraine.

Head of the SSU

Lieutenant General Vasyl Maliuk