Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked the Day of Defenders of Ukraine holiday on Friday by promising victory over Russia and freedom for Ukraine.
In a video address in the hills outside the capital Kiev, Zelensky thanked Ukraine’s armed forces for defending their country.
He said that everything that was taken from Ukraine would be returned and no soldier would remain in captivity.
“It seems that the current enemy in its evil unites all the enemies of our statehood that we faced before,” Zelensky said in the forested hills outside the village of Vitachyv, the site of a historic military post overlooking the Dnipro River.
“By defeating this enemy, we will answer all the enemies who violated Ukraine – those who lived, who live and will live on our land. This will be a win for all our people. This will be a victory for the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, has killed thousands, displaced millions, razed cities and crippled the global economy.
Ukrainian forces have made advances in recent weeks, but Russia has carried out heavy airstrikes that hit energy facilities as well as apartment blocks this week.