• Zelensky told his people “we will destroy everyone.”
• He sat at a desk and recounted his rushed declaration to Ukrainians a year earlier.
• This is how it began on February 24, 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told his people “we will destroy everyone” to commemorate the first anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

In a media-released film labelled “the year of invincibility,” the 45-year-old sat at a desk and recounted his rushed declaration to Ukrainians a year earlier, as Kyiv and the world reeled from Russia’s act of war.

“A year ago on this day, from this same place around seven in the morning, I addressed you with a brief statement, lasting only 67 seconds,” he said in a 15-minute speech amid sombre music.

“…we are strong. We are ready for anything. We will defeat everyone. This is how it began on February 24, 2022. The longest day of our lives. The most difficult day in our recent history. We woke up early and haven’t slept since.”

Western military experts anticipate over 100,000 casualties on both sides of the largest European combat since World War Two. Tens of thousands of civilians killed, while millions escaped violence.

“Almost everyone has at least one contact in their phone that will never pick up the phone again,” Zelenskiy said. “He who will not respond to the SMS ‘How are you?’.  These two simple words got a new meaning during the year of the war.”

Moscow labels the fight a “special military operation,” but Ukrainian soldiers averted a quick triumph early in 2022.

Fighting is unlikely to cease soon since both countries’ leaders refuse to negotiate.

Zelenskiy, who has helped secure international financial and military aid to defend Ukraine against a larger army, lauded his people.

“We became one big army,” he said. “We have become a team where someone finds, someone packs, someone brings, but everyone contributes.”

He called 2022 resilient, courageous, painful, and united.

“Its main conclusion is that we have survived. We had not been defeated. And we will do everything to win this year!”

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