Ukraine marks 34 years of independence as Russia’s war rages on

Al Jazeera English

Russia says Ukrainian forces carried out an aerial attack overnight, targeting more than a dozen regions. The Defence Ministry reports that 95 drones were destroyed in areas from Kursk and Leningrad to Moscow and the Black Sea.  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country will not be defeated, insisting it is not a victim. His comments come as Ukraine celebrates 34 years of independence from the Soviet Union.  Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi has the latest updates from Kyiv, Ukraine.  Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile  #Ukraine #UkraineWar #RussiaUkraineWar #VolodymyrZelenskyy #Russia #VladimirPutin #VolodymrZelenskyy #Kyiv #AlJazeeraEnglish  # news #breaking #24x7

Transcript

00:00Russia says Ukrainian forces have carried out an aerial attack overnight, targeting more than a dozen regions.

00:06The Defence Ministry reports 95 drones were destroyed in areas from Kursk and Leningrad to Moscow and the Black Sea.

00:14It says at least one strike sparked a fire in the northwest. Crews are working to contain the blaze.

00:19No deaths or injuries have been reported.

00:23Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky says his country will not be defeated, insisting it is not a victim.

00:29His comments come as Ukraine celebrates 34 years of separation from the Soviet Union.

00:37Ukraine is stronger and respects itself.

00:40And Ukraine does not wait for gestures of goodwill, but has its own will to implement what we need.

00:46And when Russia wants to take the Sumi region, then the armed forces appear in the Kursk region.

00:51When the enemy strikes, our energy sector wants to leave us without light and heat, then its refineries burn.

00:56And no one can forbid us from such strikes.

00:59Because it strikes justice.

01:02Ezein Basraby has this from Kyiv.

01:06Relatives of fallen soldiers in this conflict, relatives of those that are still missing in this war,

01:13are marking Independence Day here in Kyiv on Independence Square.

01:17This is the third year in a row that Ukrainians are marking this occasion at a time of war.

01:22Three decades after announcing their departure from the Soviet Union, their independence from the Soviet Union,

01:29they are still at war with Russia for another year running.

01:34Now, Zelensky, President Volodymyr Zelensky, made a crucial speech at a critical time.

01:40Today, he had language to rally his people, but he also made some practical points that hint at perhaps what is to come.

01:48He said that Ukraine has proven that Russia is not invincible.

01:51When the second largest army in the world, he said, invaded this country,

01:56Ukraine was able to hold them back, stop them from overrunning the capital, and they have continued to do so.

02:02He said that has made Ukraine different.

02:03It is now an equal ally in Europe.

02:06It is the strongest military in Europe and an important partner on things like new technology.

02:13For example, he said drone tech.

02:15And he said that Ukraine's place is at the table.

02:19He also said that it is an obligation on this generation to make sure the war is not passed on to the next one.

02:25And he had language to say that he would not compromise Ukraine's territorial integrity

02:29and that it was incumbent upon him to make sure to find peace and end the war.

02:33But reading between the lines, there was a sense of urgency that this war does need to end soon.

02:38And the question now is, what is Zelensky trying to prepare his people for?

02:43It really seems there are one of two bitter pills to swallow.

02:46Either you may compromise for peace or this war will be prolonged and carry on.

02:53Zayn Basravi, Al Jazeera, Kyiv.

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