Six months to the day since Vladimir Putin launched his invasion, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said his country has been “reborn” through its fight for freedom.
In a pre-recorded speech to mark Ukrainian Independence Day on Wednesday, the wartime leader said: “A new nation appeared in the world on 24 February at 4 in the morning. It was not born, but reborn. A nation that did not cry, scream or take fright. One that did not flee. Did not give up. And did not forget.”
Dressed in his trademark combat fatigues, the 44-year-old added: “What for us is the end of the war? We used to say: peace. Now we say: victory.”
His optimistic message came after he warned the Ukrainian public to expect Russian attacks on the national holiday. Moscow was likely to stage “repugnant…provocations” around the festivities, he said.
As a safety precaution, the city of Kyiv has banned public celebrations. However, in a show of defiance, burned-out Russian tanks were placed in the centre of the capital.
