Officers of the SSU Special Operations Center ‘A’, who made an important contribution to the liberation of Zmiinyi Island in the summer of 2022, received awards from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.

The awards were presented by the Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov.

The SSU Head Vasyl Maliuk thanked the MoD’s Defence Intelligence for cooperation and the ‘Alpha’ special force for their work in the hottest spots of the war.

‘The SSU and the DIU have developed and conducted many joint special operations that are changing the course of this war. They are the results of our well-coordinated efforts and effective interaction. One of such major operations is the liberation of Zmiinyi Island, where side by side we destroyed the occupiers. There are dozens of similar examples. And I am confident that more will be carried out! We have one purpose - to clear our land from invaders and win,’ the SSU Head Vasyl Maliuk remarked.

The fighters of the SSU Special Operations Center ‘A’ were part of assault teams that landed on Zmiinyi from helicopters on May 8 to storm it. Prior to that, they had been training together with the DIU at an airfield in Odesa oblast to ensure that the operation goes smoothly.

The Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov noted that the battle for Zmiinyi Island and the return of the Ukrainian flag to it became a symbol of Ukraine’s Victory over russia at sea.

‘The liberation of Zmiinyi is one of Ukraine’s most important victories during the war against russian invaders. This endeavor, among other things, enabled us to secure Odesa and the entire Ukrainian Black Sea region from existing threats and unblock commercial shipping. We all know that it was difficult. However, thanks to unity and coordination of all Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine, in particular the DIU and the SSU, we have done what few people believed in. I am sure that this will continue until we completely defeat terrorist russia,’ Kyrylo Budanov noted.