Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion on Friday with a somber message of defiance to his people, saying “we will defeat them all.” In a video released to the media titled “the year of invincibility,” he sat at a desk and recalled how he had addressed Ukrainians in a hastily made statement a year earlier, while Kiev and the world were reeling from Russia’s act of war.
“One year ago today, at about seven o’clock in the morning, from this very spot, I gave you a brief statement, which was only 67 seconds. We are strong. We are ready for anything. We will defeat them all. This started on February 24, 2022. The longest day of our lives and toughest day in our recent history. We got up early and haven’t slept since,” he said in a 15-minute speech as somber music played in the background.
Zelenskyy said, “Almost everyone has at least one contact on their phone who will never pick up the phone again.” The one who won’t respond to the SMS ‘How are you?’ These two simple words took on a whole new meaning during the year of war.” Ukrainian forces stopped a swift victory in early 2022, and the conflict, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” has become one of grinding trench warfare in the east and south.
