Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated that he, the troops, and the whole Ukrainians would not allow Russia to destroy Ukraine.
Zelensky said this in a video and texts posted on his X account as Ukraine is marking two years of full-scale Russian invasion into his country.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin on 24 February 2022, ordered the Russian troops to invade Ukraine saying the objective was the “demilitarisation” of Ukraine.
While the figures of fatalities from both countries have been unfounded, the United Nations Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said there have been 30,457 civilian casualties. This comprised 10,582 killed and 19, 875 injured.
Also, Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service have said that 42,284 Russian military personnel have been killed since the start of the war two years ago.
Zelensky in his post, said, “We are preparing to continue our very intensive international work in the following weeks. There will be new agreements to strengthen our warriors, our cities’ protection, and our state’s position.
“I thank everyone in the world who helps us. I am grateful to everyone who defends Ukraine, our people, and our absolutely fair principles.
“No one in the world has the right to destroy independent nations. No one. And we will not let Russia destroy Ukraine.”
The anniversary will be marked with a string of foreign dignitaries and officials expected to visit the capital, Kyiv, in solidarity as Ukrainian forces run low on ammunition and weaponry and Western aid hangs in the balance.
The Ukrainian troops face mounting challenges on the front line amid dwindling ammunition supplies and personnel challenges and having withdrawn from a strategic eastern city that handed Moscow one of its biggest victories.
The anniversary comes after Zelenskyy sacked top military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi, replacing him with Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, marking the most significant shakeup of top brass since the full-scale invasion.
Russia still controls roughly a quarter of the country after Ukraine failed to meet expectations with its summer-time counteroffensive not producing breakthroughs.
Meanwhile, millions of Ukrainians continue to live under precarious circumstances in the crossfire of battles, and many others face constant struggles under Russian occupation. Most are still waiting for a Ukrainian liberation that hasn’t come.
According to The Washington Post, foreign officials are expected to arrive at the capital to meet with Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials and express their continued support for the country as it fights Moscow’s troops and prepares for European Union membership.
In the United States Congress, Republicans have stalled $60 billion in military aid for Kyiv, desperately needed in the short term. The EU recently approved a 50 billion euro (about $54 billion) aid package for Ukraine, despite resistance from Hungary, meant to support Ukraine’s economy.
US President Joe Biden tied the loss of the defensive stronghold of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region after months of grueling battles to the stalled US aid.
Fears have since spiked that Ukrainian forces would face similar difficulties across other parts of the 1000-kilometer (620-mile) front line as they come under mounting pressure from Russian assaults.
