“That day was the longest of our lives, the toughest in our trendy historical past,” mentioned Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, recalling February 24 a yr in the past, when the nation woke as much as the beginning of the battle launched for Russia. The president has delivered medals to the family members of combatants killed within the battle in a solemn ceremony in kyiv. “Glory to all of you (…) A superb reminiscence for all these whose lives had been taken by this battle. Glory to our heroes. Glory to Ukraine,” he mentioned on the ceremony earlier than troopers and family members of these killed in fight.
In a defiant speech, one yr after the beginning of the battle, Zelensky pledged to struggle for victory in 2023. He congratulated the Ukrainians for his or her resistance to the largest and deadliest battle waged in Europe because the Second World War. And he has affirmed that they’ve confirmed to be invincible in what he has described as “a yr of ache, unhappiness, religion and unity.”
“We survived the primary day of whole battle. We did not know what tomorrow would convey us, however we clearly understood that now we have to struggle for each tomorrow. And we struggle,” he mentioned. That was “the longest day of our lives. The hardest day in our trendy historical past. We acquired up early and have not slept since,” she added.
Zelensky pressured that on February 24 a yr in the past “thousands and thousands” of Ukrainians “made a alternative” by defending the blue and yellow flag. “We are usually not fleeing, however we face one another. Resisting and preventing,” he mentioned in one other message posted on his social networks that was accompanied by a video with pictures of the victims of the battle, of the wounded and displaced, of the battle of the Ukrainian Army troopers, or the a number of demonstrations in numerous cities world wide in help of Kiev.
On February 24, thousands and thousands of us made a alternative. Not a white flag, however the blue and yellow one. Not fleeing, however dealing with. Resisting & preventing.
It was a yr of ache, sorrow, religion, and unity. And this yr, we remained invincible. We know that 2023 would be the yr of our victory! pic.twitter.com/oInWvssjOI
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2023
In addition, the Ukrainian president has made a speech to the nation early within the morning by which he recalled what February 24, 2022 was like: “A yr in the past, on today, from this very place, about At seven within the morning, I addressed you with a brief assertion. It lasted solely 67 seconds. It contained the 2 most necessary issues, then and now. That Russia began a full-scale battle towards us. And that we’re sturdy,” he declared. .
“We fought, we fought fiercely every single day. We endured the second day after which the third. They predicted that we might final three days. They threatened that in 72 hours we might not exist. But we survived the fourth day, then the fifth, and at the moment we’re precisely one yr standing up. We know that it’s value preventing for each morning”, he identified.
“We acquired new blows every single day, we realized about new tragedies every single day, however we endured because of those that gave all the things that they had every single day,” mentioned Zelenski, whereas thanking the Armed Forces, rescuers or the emergency providers, in addition to the companions and allies which have supported Kiev this yr, experiences Europa Press.
“Ukraine has stunned the world. Ukraine has impressed the world. Ukraine has united the world,” he mentioned, including that he was “glad that the worldwide anti-Putin coalition has grown a lot.”
On the eve of the anniversary, the United Nations General Assembly permitted – with 141 votes in favor – a symbolic decision (as a result of it isn’t binding) condemning the invasion.