President Volodymyr Zelensky declared on Saturday that Russia’s ambition to destroy Ukraine has backfired, with the war now “returning to its home.”
According to AFP, in a video address commemorating Ukraine’s Independence Day, Zelensky stated that the message was recorded near the site where Kyiv recently launched its unexpected incursion into Russian territory.
As Ukraine marked its independence from the Soviet Union, the ongoing conflict with Russia has reached a critical juncture.
Ukrainian forces carried out a daring operation in Russia’s Kursk region, while Moscow continues to press its offensive in eastern Ukraine.
In the video, Zelensky appeared in a deserted, wooded area within the Sumy region, which he had visited earlier in the week.
He noted that the location was only a “few kilometres” away from where Ukrainian forces shocked the international community on August 6 by crossing into Russian territory.
Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv has once again caught the world off guard, and he vowed that Russia would soon understand the consequences of its actions.
“Russia was seeking one thing: to destroy us,” Zelensky said, reflecting on the 2022 invasion. “Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. And what the enemy brought to our land has now returned to its home.”
The Ukrainian leader continued, “Anyone who wants to sow evil on our land will reap its fruit on their territory.”
He stressed that this was not merely a prediction or an act of vengeance, but rather a form of justice.
Zelensky also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, referring to him as a “sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button.”
The recent Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region has undoubtedly rattled Moscow, although it has not significantly hindered Russia’s ongoing military efforts in eastern Ukraine.
