'We did not raise white flag, but began to defend 'blue-yellow' one': Zelenskyy

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, early on Friday, said Kyiv did not surrender but instead began to defend itself, as exactly one year passed since the start of the country's war with Russia.

"Some were afraid, some were shocked, some didn't know what to say, but everyone felt what to do … There were queues. Some stood at the borders, but many were at the military commissariats and TrO (Territorial Defense Forces). We did not raise the white flag but began to defend the blue-yellow one," Zelenskyy said in a video address on the occasion of the first year of the Russian invasion.

Noting that they did not know how the war would develop, Zelenskyy said what they did understand was that they would have to fight for survival every day, which he said they did, while Russia "gnawed every day."

"We survived the second day. And then the third. Three days, which were given to us to live. They threatened that we would cease to exist in 72 hours. But we survived on the fourth day. And then the fifth. And today, we have been standing for exactly one year. And we still know: We have to fight for every tomorrow," Zelenskyy noted.

Zelenskyy also said that Ukraine surprised, inspired and united the world during the war, which he said can be proven in "a thousand words" but can simply be seen by the provision of various heavy arms, most notably missile defense systems and tanks, by foreign countries.

"I thank all our partners, allies and friends who stood side by side with us all year. I am glad that the international anti-Putin coalition has grown so much that it needs a separate address. I will make it soon," he further noted.

He also noted that every Ukrainian had lost someone during the past year, whether it be a family member, a friend, a colleague or a neighbor, and that his country has become one during this period.

"We became one family. There are no more strangers or strangers among us. Ukrainians today are all their own. Ukrainians sheltered Ukrainians opened their homes and hearts to those who were forced to escape from the war," he said.

He concluded that the past year was a year of resilience, indifference, courage, pain, hope, unity and indomitability. "February is the year of indomitability. Its main conclusion is that we survived. We were not defeated. And we will do everything to win this year," he said.

On Feb. 24 last year, Russia declared its "special military operation" in Ukraine, which has resulted in the death of at least 8,006 civilians and 13,287 injuries, according to the latest UN figures.​​​​​​​