Ukraine on Saturday, August 24, 2024, marked its 33rd Independence Day from the Soviet Union amid the protracted war, with Ukrainian forces entering Russia’s Kursk region and Moscow making gains in more eastern Ukrainian areas.
In an Independence Day video address filmed in the Sumy region, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted his country’s resilience.
“913 days ago, Russia unleashed war against us, including through the Sumy region,” he said.
“It violated not only our sovereign borders, but also the limits of cruelty and common sense. It was endlessly striving for one thing: to destroy us,” the Ukrainian President added.
“Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And whatever the enemy was bringing to our land has now returned to their home. And the one who wanted to turn our land into a buffer zone should think about preventing his country from becoming a buffer federation. This is how independence responds.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
He said that sooner or later “a Ukrainian response will reach any point in the Russian Federation that is a source of danger to the life of our state and our people.”
Zelenskyy criticized Russian President, Vladimir Putin, calling him a “sick old man from the Red Square, who constantly threatens everyone with the red button, will not dictate any of his red lines to us.”
“Only Ukraine and Ukrainians will determine how to live, what path to take, and what choice to make. Because this is how independence works,” he averred.
He hailed Ukrainian warriors, saying, “When the need to defend Ukraine arose, you shortly said: plus. Since then, for 913 days in a row, you have been applying a minus to the occupiers.”
“Only you know how much effort, sweat, blood and your extremely hard work is really hidden behind the dry statistics of enemy losses. Only you know what it really means to hold a position. What it means to be ‘pinned down by enemy artillery and aircraft all day long’. What it means to stand firm when ‘the orcs are pushing.’ You have preserved and are preserving our independence.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska honored the memory of the fallen Ukrainian heroes.
The Head of State and his wife walked along the alley dedicated to the memory of the fallen warriors and laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance.
They also took part in the solemn prayer event “Prayer for Ukraine.”
A joint prayer for the warring country was proclaimed by representatives of churches and religious organizations
They prayed for the Ukrainian state and the warriors, who defend it, congratulated Ukraine on the 33rd anniversary of its independence, and wished it victory over the enemy.
Also on Saturday, Zelenskyy signed a law banning Moscow-linked religious organisations in Ukraine including the Moscow-linked Orthodox Church with the decision published on the Ukrainian parliament website.
Ukraine Moving At Incredible Speed Towards EU
Meanwhile, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said on Saturday that Ukraine was “moving at incredible speed towards joining the European Union.”
In a short video posted to X to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day, von der Leyen stated, “Europe will always be at Ukraine’s side because Ukraine is Europe. Your freedom is our freedom. Your security is our security.”
“And now you are moving at incredible speed towards joining the European Union. We have been standing with you since day one and we will continue to do so for as long as it takes. Slava Ukraini [glory to Ukraine].”
Ursula von der Leyen
Ukraine became an official candidate for EU membership in June 2022, four months after Russia’s invasion.
The first round of formal accession negotiations was held in June this year.
