Zelensky Taunts Putin on Fourth Anniversary of Invasion, Reveals Secret Bunker
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today delivered a scathing mockery of Vladimir Putin, highlighting the Russian leader's failure to subjugate Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale war. The defiant message was broadcast as fresh violence erupted overnight across both nations, underscoring the ongoing brutality of the conflict.
Defiant Message from the Depths
In a newly released video, Zelensky goaded the Kremlin despot, directly referencing Putin's initial, hubristic belief that Kyiv would fall within 72 hours with minimal resistance. 'Today marks exactly four years since Putin promised to seize Kyiv in three days,' Zelensky declared. 'And this speaks volumes about our resistance, about how Ukraine has been fighting all this time.'
He credited the nation's survival to immense public courage and resilience. 'Behind these words are millions of our people, great courage, hard work, perseverance, and a long journey that Ukraine has been making since February 24, 2022,' he stated. 'Looking back at the beginning of the invasion and looking at today, we have every right to say: we defended our independence, we did not lose our statehood, Putin did not achieve his goals. He did not break the Ukrainians, he did not win this war.'
First Glimpse of the Presidential Bunker
The video provided a historic first look at the underground bunker on Bankova Street where Zelensky and the Ukrainian leadership sheltered during the war's most perilous early phase. 'We had never shown this facility before,' he revealed, describing it as a hive of activity. 'At the beginning of the war there were hundreds of people here. I worked here, then went upstairs to address you. Our team was here, the government, daily military meetings, calls, searching for solutions.'
He specifically showed a small room within the complex where he held his first critical conversations with world leaders. 'Here I spoke with President Biden,' Zelensky recounted. 'It was here that I heard: 'Volodymyr, there is a threat, you must urgently leave Ukraine. We are ready to help with this.' And here I replied that I needed weapons, not a ride.' He concluded his address with the rallying cry: 'We preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace and justice. Glory to Ukraine!'
Overnight Violence Marks Sombre Anniversary
The anniversary dawned amid a wave of attacks. In Russia, a mysterious explosion at Moscow's Savelyevsky railway station killed senior police lieutenant Denis Bratuschenko, 34, along with the alleged bomber. Russian authorities are investigating the motive.
Ukraine faced its own assaults. Police stations in Dnipro and Mykolaiv were targeted, with the latter attack injuring seven officers. This followed a deadly bombing in Lviv that killed a policewoman and wounded dozens. A Ukrainian police chief condemned the strikes, stating, 'The enemy is deliberately trying to kill Ukrainian police officers who stand guard every day.' Separately, a Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia left one dead and six injured, including a child.
Ukraine also conducted strikes, targeting Russian positions at military airfields in occupied Crimea and disrupting operations at Russia's main Black Sea airport in Sochi with drone attacks, causing hundreds of flight delays.
European Solidarity and Warnings of Escalation
Demonstrating continued Western support, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa arrived in Kyiv. 'We are in Kyiv for the tenth time since the beginning of the war,' von der Leyen said. 'To confirm that Europe is steadfastly supporting Ukraine financially, militarily, and throughout this harsh winter.'
Meanwhile, stark warnings emerged about Russia's military ambitions. The head of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker, stated that Russia is building 'bigger and more lethal' armed forces to prepare for a wider conflict, seeing no evidence of scaled-back Kremlin goals. In a call to arms published in the Daily Mail, he warned, 'We, and the West generally, are in the crosshairs of Russia... Unless something changes, I think we are on a collision course.'
Echoing the gravity, UK Armed Forces minister Al Carns remarked on the unprecedented sight of North Korean troops near Europe, calling it a 'warning signal to us all.' In diplomatic moves, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce additional support for Ukraine, while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will condemn Russia's 'despicable' treatment of civilians in occupied areas during her visit to Kyiv.
