The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Address by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukrain
Dear brothers and sisters in arms!
Today marks four years since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine.
Four years of great war.
Four years of struggle.
Four years of our resilience.
On the morning of February 24, 2022, the enemy was counting on a quick victory. It planned to break us in a few days, destroy the state, and sow fear. The enemy did not account for the most important factor — Ukrainians: strength of spirit, bravery of the warrior, unity of the people.
In the battles for Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Mariupol, we proved: Ukraine fights. And will continue to fight. We endured — and we will endure.
Over these years, we have undergone hard trials. We lost. We learned. We became stronger.
Today, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are an experienced, battle-hardened army.
We strengthen defense every day. We improve command. We increase technological capabilities. We develop unmanned systems, artillery, air defense. We are changing rapidly.
I thank every warrior — those on the front line, in the air, at sea, in the rear. I thank medics, volunteers, defense industry workers, and every citizen working for Victory.
The war, which has already lasted 12 years in total, is a war of a new type.
It is fought in several dimensions — military, technological, cognitive. And in each dimension, we must become stronger than the enemy.
During these years, we have, unfortunately, lost the best sons and daughters of Ukraine. Eternal memory. Eternal glory to the fallen defenders.
Our duty is to be worthy of them, to continue the struggle, to defeat the enemy for their sake.
We are grateful to international partners for their support. Together we defend not only Ukraine — we defend freedom, the rule of law, and the security of Europe.
The great Ukrainian poet Lina Kostenko wrote: “Fate does not smile upon slaves; fate smiles upon people”.
The Ukrainian army is people — free, conscious, those who fight for their home and their land.
Against us are slaves and mercenaries driven into battle by fear and lies. Therefore, truth is on our side.
Dear Ukrainian defenders!
I know for certain — we have already held out where others would not.
Glory to Ukraine!
