Today, on the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a somber greeting of defiance to his people, promising that “we will defeat everyone.”
The 45-year-old sat at a desk and remembered how he spoke to Ukrainians in a hurried statement a year ago, as Kyiv and the rest of the world reeled from Russia’s act of war, in a video that was made available to the media and was titled “the year of invincibility.”
In a 15-minute speech with solemn music playing in the background, he said, “A year ago today, from this same spot, around seven in the morning, I addressed you with a brief statement, lasting only 67 seconds.”
We are powerful, he said further. Whatever comes, we are prepared. We’ll triumph over everyone. It started out like this on February 24, 2022. most arduous day of our existence. The most challenging day in recent memory. We haven’t slept since we got up early.
More than 100,000 people have been killed or injured, according to estimates by Western military authorities, in the largest conflict to erupt in Europe since World War Two. Additionally, tens of thousands of civilians perished, and millions more escaped the possibility of conflict.
Zelensky asserted that “almost everyone has at least one contact in their phone who will never take up the phone again.” Whoever does not reply to the “How are you?” Text. The meaning of these two straightforward words changed during the year of the conflict.
Early in 2022, Ukrainian forces stopped a quick win, and what Moscow refers to as a “special military operation” has devolved into acrimonious trench warfare in the east and south.
The chances of an immediate end to the fighting appear slim because the leaders of both nations aren’t showing any signs of capitulating.
Zelenskiy praised his people, who have helped Ukraine maintain its defenses against a much larger army by securing financial and military support from all over the globe.
We merged into one large force, he claimed. We have evolved into a team where everyone contributes—someone discovers, someone packs, someone brings.
He characterized 2022 as a year of resiliency, bravery, suffering, and harmony.
The primary finding of it is that we have lived. We hadn’t lost the battle. And we’ll work extremely hard to succeed this year!
»President zelensky is convinced that 2023 is Ukraine’s year of victory in their war against Russia«