Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko congratulated the military on the Day of Defender of Ukraine and handed awards to the military servicemen in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone who are to be demobilized by the end of October.

The head of state congratulated the military with demobilization. He said that demobilization of soldiers conscripted during the so-called sixth wave of mobilization was possible thanks to successful steps in the switch to the contract services.

"Since from January 1, over 57,000 voluntaries came to the Armed Forces under a contract. We are thankful to them. We are sure that today after your demobilization, the Ukrainian Armed Forces would become contract-based and professional armed forces by late October," Poroshenko said.

He proposed to the soldiers to continue serving in the military under a contract.