Commemorating The Sacrifice Of Ukrainians, President Zelensky Promises Victory

President Zelensky and his wife commemorated the sacrifices of Ukrainians in the Maidan Revolution. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky marked Ukraine's annual Day of Martabat and Freedom on Monday, commemorating sacrifices made by the Ukrainian people since the Russian invasion, saying his country would survive and win.

In a video speech to his people, President Zelensky praised the contributions made by Ukrainians, ranging from soldiers, firefighters, medics to teachers who gave online lessons, villagers cooked for the military, tailors sewed uniforms to farmers hijacking their fields despite the risks.

He praised their resistance, despite frequent missile strikes, large-scale devastation, shortages, and rotating blackouts as winter arrived, nearly exactly nine months since the Russian invasion.

"We can be left without money. Without gasoline. Without hot water. Without light. But not without freedom," said President Zelensky.

Martabat and Freedom Day marked pro-EU protests in 2013/2014 which later became known as the Maidan Revolution or Martabat Revolution, and the 2004 Orange Revolution. In both revolutions, Ukraine's leadership was ousted.

Highlighting Ukraine's resistance, President Zelensky's video includes excerpts of a speech given at a year ago's anniversary when he was wearing a suit and tie.

This year he wore a khaki t-shirt which became his trademark during the war.

"What has changed since then (a year ago)? A lot. Crater appears on our land. There are roadblocks and anti-tank hedgehogs in our city and village. It may be dark on our roads. Maybe it's cold in our house," President Zelensky said.

"There are many changes, but they don't change the most important thing. Because the most important thing is not outside, but inside. And it still doesn't change. And that's why we will survive. We will survive," he explained.

He said in the future Ukraine will gather at Kyiv Independence Square, which is the center of the 2013/14 and 2004 events, "where we will celebrate Ukraine's Victory Day, in a peaceful Kyiv, in a peaceful Ukraine."