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"After the beginning of the annexation of Crimea and Russia's aggression against Ukraine, it was Odesa region that became the southern outpost of the state defense," he said.

Read alsoPoroshenko hears report of Acting Commander of Naval Forces of Ukraine on development concept"It was Odesa citizens who destroyed the Russian propaganda-fueled project Novorossiya (literally "New Russia"), did not succumb to the Moscow-generated separatist propaganda, demonstrated a mature civic position and clearly took a position in support of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our country," Poroshenko said.