Today is Independence Day in Ukraine. This year its celebration is extra important as the country is still at war with Russia and its independence is under threat. President Zelensky said today in a speech that the country and its identity were reborn after the Russian invasion and that Ukraine is a truly independent and united nation now.

Today it is also exactly 6 months ago that Russia invaded. The war has been the most devastating and deadly conflict on European soil since WW2. According to estimates more than 10.000 civilians, 40.000 Ukrainian soldiers and 80.000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict. On top of that, whole cities such as Mariupol have been destroyed and millions of Ukrainians fled the country.

Russia started their ‘special military operation’ (they still do not call it a war) officially to ‘de-nazify’ and ‘demilitarise’ Ukraine and to protect the Ukrainian people against ‘bullying and genocide’ by the Ukrainian government. Another objective was to ensure Ukrainian neutrality (prevent NATO + the EU from expanding). Russia thought that the whole operation would take 3 days.

In conclusion, Russia has largely failed. They did capture a significant piece of Southern and Eastern Ukraine but at a high price. They have not ‘de-nazified’ nor ‘de-militarised’ Ukraine, on the contrary, Ukraine has put up a great fight and with new Western weapons they stopped the Russian advance.

Russia also did not protect Ukrainian people against their government, but bombed, killed, tortured, and executed more than 10 000 people and destroyed many homes. These are not the actions of liberators.

And what about maintaining Ukrainian neutrality and stopping NATO expansion? That also backfired. Sweden and Finland are set to join NATO and Ukraine’s relationship with the EU and NATO only became closer. Russia has also isolated themselves and their economy has been hurt by Western Sanctions.

Russia has not been defeated yet and it will be hard to recapture lost land, but for now let's appreciate Ukraine's spirit and defence. Ukrainians can be truly proud of their country today. Слава Україні!  

Originally posted on Instagram on August 24, 2022