February 24, 2026

"It's exactly four years today since Putin planned to take Kyiv in three days." Zelensky addressed Ukrainians on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale war and showed the bunker in Kyiv

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the people of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine showed for the first time the bunker premises on Bankova Street in Kyiv. From this office, at the beginning of the war, he managed the defense and negotiated with world leaders. Now, the bunker contains Ukrainian flags, posters, a model of the "Mriya" aircraft destroyed by the Russian Armed Forces, tables, a long corridor, a coat of arms, and an icon. "Novaya-Evropa" summarizes the main points of the Ukrainian president's address. Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: Presidential Office of Ukraine. Exactly four years ago, Putin planned to take "Kyiv in three days," but Ukrainians chose resistance. Today marks exactly four years since Putin planned to take Kyiv in three days. And this actually says a lot about our resistance, about how Ukraine has been fighting all this time. Behind these words are millions of people, great courage, very hard work, resilience, and the great path that Ukraine has been overcoming since February 24 [2022]. In the small bunker on Bankova, I had my first conversations with world leaders at the beginning of the war. Here I spoke with US President Joe Biden and heard: "Volodymyr, there is a threat, you need to leave Ukraine immediately. We are ready to help with this." And I replied here that I needed weapons, not a taxi. And not because we are all so fearless. We are all living people, and on that day, all Ukrainians were scared and in pain, many were in shock, and many did not know what to say. But on some invisible level, everyone knew that we had no other Ukraine. Resistance became total. This was a choice made by millions of Ukrainians. Our people did not raise a white flag but defended the blue and yellow. Warriors stood firm, and civilians defended cities, villages, streets, and yards. And together they showed the lost Russia the only right way. Everyone understood that every tomorrow had to be earned. Ukraine had to stand against all odds. And against all odds, our Ukraine had to work. Much was done right here (in the bunker. - Ed.): daily meetings with the military, calls, searching for solutions. Now it is empty, of course, but at the beginning of the war, there were hundreds of people here. Recruits of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during training in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, February 22, 2026. Photo: Press service of the 65th Mechanized Brigade / EPA. "Gnawing" for aid. It was necessary to deliver weapons, medicines, and food to cities blocked by the enemy. So that there would be life, for which Ukraine is fighting so desperately. "Every aid package, every sanction against Russia, every batch of weapons - all this had to be gnawed out. To gnaw out faith in Ukraine. To make the world get involved. And this was the key message to world leaders, to millions around the world: be with us, be with Ukraine, believe in us. These calls worked because Ukrainians fought in a breathtaking way. Soon, everyone saw this blue and yellow sea - thousands of people with our flags in the squares of Europe and the world. And so, gradually, hard, brick by brick, Ukraine built the support that allowed it to withstand: when we stood on the first day of the war, the longest day of our lives. And then another. And another. And then a week. Two. And then - a month. "And we saw spring. We fought for it when it seemed like this February would never end. This was a turning point, and for the first time, everyone had a fleeting thought: we can do it. Ukraine can do it. I really like the phrase that everyone reposted at the time: when Ukraine said: "You think I got on my knees? I just tied my boots." Pain that cannot be contained. The path lay ahead, and even in this long tunnel, not a millionth of the pain that Ukraine has endured during this time can be contained. The pain that Russia has brought to every one of our families, to every Ukrainian heart. Bucha. Irpin. Borodyanka. Mass graves. Gostomel. "Mriya". Kharkiv. Mykolaiv. OGA (most likely referring to the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, destroyed after a Russian strike in 2022. - Ed.). Kakhovka Dam. Zaporizhzhia NPP. Kremenchug and Kryvyi Rih. Ternopil and Lviv. Yelenovka. Chasiv Yar. Kyiv. "Okhmatdyt". Kramatorsk. Train station. Toy. Mariupol. Drama theater. The inscription "Children." Odesa. Apartment building. Girl. Three months. Vilniansk. Maternity hospital. Infant. People don't do this. Ukrainians will not forget this. Ukrainians did not let anger consume them. But all this time, we do not let anger consume us from within; Ukrainians turn their own fury into energy for the fight and prove that you can force us to go down to a shelter, but you cannot drive Ukraine underground forever. And this is the next important stage of our struggle, when Ukraine has not only stood its ground and is not just holding the defense, but when Ukraine is striking back. There were the first offensives, the first successes, and what cannot be forgotten: the first eyes - the eyes of Ukrainians who welcomed their own. We saw how Russian ultimatums turned into gestures of goodwill. How Snake Island became ours again. How the word "bavovna" (cotton) acquired a new meaning, and how we rejoiced when the first "bavovna" was heard in Russia. This is not malicious joy; it is simply how justice sounds in Ukrainian. People cross a destroyed bridge, leaving the city of Irpin, captured by Russians, Kyiv region, Ukraine, March 7, 2022. Photo: Roman Pilipey / EPA. The hardest winter in history and indestructibility. What once seemed like fantasy has now become the norm. "Patriots," "HIMARS," "NASAMS," F-16. Weapons, long-range. Ukraine has come from a point where we were given "body armor" to a point where we ourselves produce over 3 million FPV drones per year. But even this is not enough - we will produce more. Putin understands that he cannot defeat Ukraine on the battlefield, and the "second army in the world" is fighting apartment buildings and power plants. "And now Ukrainians are overcoming the hardest winter in history. And terror almost every night. What other nation can do this? Despite the war, all attacks, all trials - defeating evil, defeating despondency, despair. And despite all this - recovering after each attack. From all these achievements, small victories, a great Ukraine is formed. Gratitude to allies. We remember how the first foreign leaders arrived in Ukraine at the beginning of this war. We understood who our true brother and friend is, who was not afraid. I want to thank every leader who chose the bright side of history - chose Ukraine. And I really want to come here one day with the President of the United States. I know for sure: only by visiting Ukraine and seeing our life and struggle with my own eyes, feeling this sea of pain - only then can one understand what this war is really about. Who is the aggressor here. Who needs to be pressured. Russia itself needs to be put in its place for true peace to be established. Memory. They say time heals. I'm not sure. At least, "I don't know how much time it takes to heal all our wounds. All these painful questions of "how much?" that burn inside. How many tears have been shed? How many attacks, insidious blows? How many scars on the heart? How many flags in our cemeteries? How many names? I am sure that the fallen heroes have told God the whole truth about this war. One thousand four hundred and sixty-two days of full-scale war. Twelve years since the beginning of Russia's aggression. For some - a whole lifetime. The "Rays of Memory" installation illuminates the sky over Lychakiv Military Cemetery in Lviv during a memorial prayer and candlelight vigil, February 23, 2026. Photo: Mykola Tys / EPA. We want a strong peace and real security guarantees. Of course, we all want the war to end. "But no one will allow Ukraine to end. We want peace. Strong, worthy, long-lasting. And before each round of negotiations, I give our team very clear directives. My message: do not nullify all these years, do not devalue all the struggle. That is why there are so many rounds of negotiations and a battle for every word, for real security guarantees. The agreement must not only be signed but must be accepted by Ukrainians. Strength is in the people. The strength that has sustained us all these years is our people. Ukrainians. Ukrainian women. Everyone who does not give up. I want to thank everyone who holds independence on their shoulders. I am proud of you. Remembering the beginning of the invasion and looking at today, we have every right to say: we have defended independence, we have not lost statehood, Ukraine exists, and not only on the map. Ukraine is a subject of international relations. "Putin has not achieved his goals. He has not broken the Ukrainians. He has not won this war. We have preserved Ukraine, and we will do everything to achieve peace and justice.