Ukraine vowed to never give in to Russia’s aggression on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of the country.
“Ukraine will never submit to the occupiers and the Russian military will be punished for violating international law,” the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Zelensky will later speak at a special session of the European Parliament as the country marks the important milestone.
It comes as eight people, including a child, were killed in a drone strike on Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region overnight, where 89 people were also killed in a separate attack on Sunday.
Ukraine’s National Police said a drone attack on a residential building in the small town of Hlukhiv injured 12 people, including two children.
President Zelensky wrote on X that the building was a dormitory of a local school.
“Russia continues to terrorize our border areas,” Zelensky wrote.
In a video shared by the president, emergency workers can be seen sifting through rubble as they continued to search for victims Tuesday morning.
Zelensky said the attack confirms that Putin “wants the war to continue, he is not interested in talking about peace”.
He will address members of the European Parliament via video link from Kyiv on Tuesday, 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country on February 24, 2022.
It comes after US President Joe Biden’s decision to grant power to Ukraine. Turn on the green light to use long-range missiles provided by the US to attack Russia on Monday.
Local media previously reported that Mr. Zelensky will also announce an “internal recovery plan” to the Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday.
The country’s military commander-in-chief wrote on Telegram that the country had faced 1,000 days of “extremely complex, fierce war for our existence” and “destroying the enemy”.
“In the icy trenches of the Donetsk region and on the burning steppes of the Kherson region under artillery shells, hail and anti-aircraft guns – we are fighting for the right to life.”
He added: “Every dark night, even if there are a thousand nights, always ends with dawn.”
On Tuesday, the Kremlin approved an updated nuclear doctrine – which says any act of aggression from a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear power, would would be considered a joint attack on Russia.
It says Russia could use nuclear weapons in the event of a serious threat to its sovereignty, even if only with conventional weapons, an attack on Belarus or a major machine launch military aircraft, cruise missiles, drones or other aerial vehicles crossing Russian borders.
Eleven children were among those killed in a separate Russian attack on Sumy late Sunday, leaving the area without power and forcing more than 400 people to evacuate.
Russian missiles and drones also targeted power structures across Ukraine on Sunday. killing at least 10 people and causing a power outage.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell Fontelles also said Tuesday that the EU continues to stand with Ukraine, but it “needs to[ed] Do more and faster.”
“The European Union will continue to increase its support to help Ukraine achieve victory and bring peace to our continent,” he said. a video shared on X.
“History will judge us based on our actions and reactions,” the caption reads.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reiterated his country’s “unwavering” support for Ukraine amid speculation that he could allow Kyiv to use British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles to attack the territories. target deep inside Russian territory.
The host of Ukraine’s United News TV, which aired at the beginning of the invasion to provide information about the war, said the country was “holding strong – despite pressure on the front lines, energy systems damaged and continuously bombarded”. .
Biden’s move to allow Ukraine to attack Russia with US-made long-range missiles is a move welcomed as a step that could redress the balance between the forces of both countries.
It is believed that Ukraine is only allowed to use missiles to protect its forces inside Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a surprise attack in August and an attack from Russian troops and South Korea are expected in the next few days.
