A graduation ceremony was held at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine for cadets receiving their first officer rank of lieutenant. The Deputy Head of the SSU, Brigadier General Serhiy Naumyuk, presented the graduates with their master’s degrees and congratulated them on completing their training.

‘Today you are becoming part of a team of professionals whose main task is to defend our state. I hope you will fulfil the duty entrusted to you with honour. Today, the Security Service is a generator of new military ideas, strategies and technologies. This means that all opportunities will be open to you to realize your great potential. We are now a security service of a country at war, and the SSU has already carried out dozens of large-scale, historic special operations,’ said Serhiy Naumyuk.

One such mission was the Spider’s Web, in which the SSU inflicted heavy losses on russian strategic aviation, hitting 41 military aircraft in one day. Another was the third strike on the Crimean Bridge.

Serhiy Naumyuk emphasized that the SSU is fighting not only against external enemies, but also internal ones: the Service systematically dismantles agent networks, prevents sabotage and terrorist attacks in Ukraine, and brings traitors to justice.

‘Regardless of which direction you choose, you will become part of our ‘operational family’. You will have every chance to prove yourself and bring us closer to our main goal – our Victory!’ the Deputy Head remarked.

Soon, the graduates will join various departments of the SSU’s Central Office and regional offices. A significant number of them will begin service in the SSU Special Operations Centre ‘A’. Ten graduates of the course have already received commendations from the Cyber Department, the National Statehood Protection Department and the Military Counterintelligence of the SSU.

‘The Academy and its lecturers have given you sufficient foundation to effectively fight the enemy. Now everything will depend on you. Serve with dignity. Be worthy of your officer rank and military uniform. Protect our country!’ urged the Rector of the National Academy, Andriy Chernyak.

During the event, those present honored the fallen heroes with a minute of silence. One of them is the SSU Counterintelligence officer Colonel Yuriy Vozny, who was killed during the Anti-Terrorist Operation in 2017. This course was named after him throughout the entire training period.