Ukraine鈥檚 President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes Commander in Chief of the Ukrainian armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi during a celebration ceremony of the Independence Day of Ukraine, amid Russia鈥檚 invasion of the country, in central Kyiv, Ukraine August 24, 2023. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich
KYIV鈥� President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed his nation鈥檚 spirit and defiance in holding out against Russian forces in a rallying speech on Thursday marking Ukraine鈥檚 Independence Day.
The anniversary was celebrated quietly, and fell exactly 18 months after Moscow鈥檚 full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022 which has killed tens of thousands of people, forced millions from their homes and devastated towns across Ukraine.
In a video address filmed in front of government buildings in central Kyiv, Zelensky thanked Ukrainians 鈥� from soldiers to utilities workers and journalists 鈥� for their contribution to the country鈥檚 defence and urged them to reflect on how were contributing to Ukraine鈥檚 independence.
鈥淚n a big war, there are no small deeds,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o unnecessary ones, no unimportant ones.鈥�
鈥淎nd everyone is important in this fight. Because this is a fight for something that is important to everyone. An independent Ukraine,鈥� he said.
Fighting did not stop on Thursday. Local Ukrainian officials said at least one person was killed and 16 people were wounded in Russian attacks. Moscow said air defense systems shot down three Ukrainian drones over Russian regions.
A counteroffensive to regain Russian-occupied territory is now in its third month and moving at a slower pace than some Western and Ukrainian officials had expected, but Zelensky vowed on Wednesday to regain all occupied territory.
People take part in a march of solidarity to mark Ukraine Independence Day in Belgrade, Serbia, August 24, 2023. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic
Exhaustion but hope
In his address, Zelensky focused much more on current events than the 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
Russia鈥檚 invasion last year galvanised Ukrainians and inspired waves of volunteers to join the military, donate to the army, or help the cause in other ways.
On Thursday, Ukrainians celebrating in downtown Kyiv 鈥� where the charred husks of Russian fighting machines stood on display along the central Khreshchatyk Street 鈥� expressed exhaustion but hope that they would prevail.
鈥淭hey wanted to take Kyiv in three days, and now their tanks are here,鈥� said Svitlana, a 71-year-old nurse, referring to Russia鈥檚 purported plans to quickly take the Ukrainian capital.
Like many others crossing the boulevards and streets of the capital, she wore a traditional embroidered shirt.
Oleksandr, a 41-year-old Kyiv resident walking along Khreshchatyk Street, said he and others 鈥渉ave learned to appreciate the simple moments鈥� of wartime life in Ukraine.
鈥淚 hope that we won鈥檛 lose our drive鈥ecause all that鈥檚 going on is exhausting,鈥� he said, standing near a blown-out Russian army vehicle.
鈥淏ut we have to preserve our dynamic and bring this situation to a logical conclusion,鈥� he said.