Former Ukrainian president honors special operations forces with a new batch of supplies
Source: Petro Poroshenko/Facebook
On the Day of Special Operations Forces (SSO), former President Petro Poroshenko, leader of the European Solidarity party, made a heartfelt tribute by donating UAH 18 million worth of equipment and supplies to support the Ukrainian elite troops.
Eight years ago, while serving as the 5th president of Ukraine, Poroshenko signed a decree establishing the Special Operations Forces. Reflecting on that decision, Poroshenko said, “Back then, there were heated debates in headquarters, centers, and training grounds about whether we even needed Special Operations Forces in the Armed Forces. I was confident that we did, and time has proven that I was right.”
These brave soldiers carried out complex missions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, conducting reconnaissance and sabotage operations behind enemy lines. The Russian invasion in February 2024 made their sevice is more challenging.
“These are the very soldiers who undertake risky, covert missions in places no one else would dare to go. If you need a challenging task completed, look for the SSO,” Poroshenko emphasized.
On Monday, he delivered the elite unit a new batch of supplies valued 18 million hryvnas. “We have come here on invitation from our old friends from various SSO units and training centers,” Poroshenko said. “We brought several hundred FPV drones, reconnaissance ‘Maviks,’ washing and shower units, PARMs, a command-staff module – everything they requested.”
Since Feb.24, 2022 Poroshenko has been actively involved in equipping the Sniper School, providing the unit snipers with thermal scopes, sniper rifles, drones and other essential gear.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.