Ukraine has declared it will never yield to Russian aggression as the nation commemorates 1,000 days since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion began.
“Ukraine will never submit to the occupiers, and the Russian military will be punished for violating international law,” the Foreign Ministry stated on Tuesday. President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to address a special session of the European Parliament to mark this milestone.
Meanwhile, in the northeastern Sumy region, eight people, including a child, were killed overnight in a drone attack on the small town of Hlukhiv. The strike on a residential building injured 12, including two children, according to Ukraine’s national police. Zelensky noted on social media platform X that the building was a dormitory at a local school, condemning Russia’s continued terror against border areas. A video shared by the president showed emergency workers searching the rubble for victims.
Zelensky emphasized that the attack confirmed Putin’s desire for ongoing conflict, stating, “He is not interested in talking about peace.” The Ukrainian leader will address European Parliament members from Kyiv, underscoring the nation’s endurance since Russia launched its invasion on February 24, 2022.
This speech follows President Joe Biden’s decision on Monday to authorize Ukraine’s use of US-supplied long-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory. Local reports also suggest that Zelensky will present an “internal resilience plan” to Ukraine’s parliament.
Ukraine’s military chief highlighted on Telegram the relentless “1,000 days of extremely complex, fierce battle for our existence,” describing the struggle for survival across various regions. “Every dark night, even if there are a thousand of them, always ends with dawn,” he wrote.
In a related development, the Kremlin has approved a revised nuclear doctrine, stating that aggression from a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power, will be treated as a joint attack on Russia. The doctrine outlines scenarios for nuclear weapon use, including threats to Russian sovereignty or an attack on Belarus.
The ongoing violence also includes a Sunday strike on Sumy, which claimed 11 children’s lives, led to widespread evacuations, and caused blackouts. Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on the same day killed at least 10 people, plunging parts of the country into darkness.
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell affirmed the bloc’s unwavering support for Ukraine but stressed the need for quicker action, saying, “History will judge us based on our actions and reactions.”
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed “ironclad” support for Ukraine, amid speculation about granting Kyiv permission to use British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles against Russian targets. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s United News TV presenter highlighted the nation’s resilience, despite ongoing assaults and energy system damage.
Biden’s approval of missile use is viewed as a significant move to shift the military balance, with Ukraine reportedly authorized to defend its forces near Russia’s Kursk region, where fresh incursions and counter-assaults are anticipated.
