On December 24, cadets of the Naval Institute of the Odessa Maritime Academy graduated from the Odessa Naval Station. The event was led by Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, with the participation of Assistant Defense Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Ukraine Massimo Proietti, representatives of the Ukrainian Navy Command and other officials.

More than fifty cadets received the first officer's shoulder straps, daggers and diplomas at the educational and qualification levels of "master" and "bachelor". Among the graduates of 2021, three lieutenants who during their years of service, before entering the military institute, participated in the protection of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine from the Russian occupier in the east of the country.

Two servicemen received diplomas with honors from the leadership of the Ukrainian Navy, and the best graduate of the Institute was awarded a card of the Italian Navy by Assistant Defense Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Ukraine Massimo Proietti. Also, three lieutenants were awarded medals by the Commander of the Navy and the Head of the Institute of the Navy of NU "OMA".

On the way to the lieutenant's shoulder straps, a lot of work was done to train professionals in their field. During the training, our young officers underwent internships and internships on ships of the fleets of Poland, France, Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine, some of them studied abroad in military schools in Italy and Great Britain. Many of them have many thousands of miles behind them, many training times.

Rear Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy

It should be noted that this year's graduate studied under the new education system and in accordance with the training course, servicemen received bachelor's and master's degrees. Another feature of the 2021 issue was the beginning of a new tradition, during which young lieutenants took turns introducing themselves and beating the ship's bell, after which they were greeted by fellow cadets of the naval school.

It was a pleasant surprise that the two officers-graduates, after the celebrations proposed to their loved ones with a bunch of flowers.