President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the 32nd anniversary of the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) Special Operations Center “Alpha” on Tuesday, presenting state awards to its soldiers and personally delivering a posthumous distinction to the family of a fallen hero.
According to his official Telegram channel, Zelensky credited SBU’s Special Operations Center Alpha (SSO A) with playing a central role in transforming the SBU since Russia’s full-scale invasion.
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“The SBU, over the years of our full-scale defense, has become one of the most powerful special services in the world – a truly combat special service – and a large part of this achievement is the result of ‘Alpha’ specifically,” Zelensky said.
Honoring the fallen heroes
Zelensky presented state awards to active soldiers of SBU’s SSO “Alpha” and conveyed a posthumous honor to the family of a fallen hero, awarding the soldier for giving his life in Ukraine’s defense.
“We will always remember each and every one,” Zelensky said, honoring all defenders that lost their life defending Ukraine’s independence and thanking their families for raising “such outstanding Ukrainian warriors.”
“[They] gave their lives so that Ukraine could live,” he said.
Even as Zelensky honored those who fell, Ukraine’s forces have been making their enemy pay – striking deep into Russian territory.
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SBU, HUR, and SSO joint drone strike cripples Tamanneftegas Terminal
Ukraine’s SBU, SSO, and Main Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) carried out a joint drone strike on the Tamanneftegas Terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai on June 13, striking the largest hydrocarbon transshipment complex in southern Russia.
“Every day it is evident that Ukrainian precision is working,” Zelensky said.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Special Operations Forces, the SBU, the HUR – all of our units, thank you,” he added, insisting on continued pressure on Russia.
The terminal served as a key node in Russia’s maritime resupply chain, supplying fuel, grain and heavy metals to occupation forces along the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson fronts.
The attack came amid broader Ukrainian efforts to systematically dismantle Russian oil and energy infrastructure, damaging five petroleum and liquefied gas storage tanks, as well as two marine loading arms, while also neutralizing Russian air defense positions protecting the facility.
On Thursday, June 18, Ukrainian drones struck one of the largest oil refineries in Moscow, with Zelensky describing the attack as a “just response to the constant Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities and towns.”
Ongoing Ukrainian strikes on critical Russian infrastructure have forced authorities to introduce rationing measures across the country over the past month, with at least 25 Russian regions now experiencing fuel supply disruptions.
“And all the current hardships for Russians should bring them closer to the understanding that this war of theirs is real,” Zelensky said, “it is not simply ‘stones falling from the sky’ – and that their war must end.”
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