KYIV, Ukraine – Marking four years since the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday publicly revealed the underground bunker from which he initially directed the country’s defense, and asserted that Russia had failed to overcome Ukrainian resistance. The disclosure came as a delegation of European leaders visited Kyiv to reaffirm their support for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy released a 19-minute video tour of the bunker complex, located beneath the capital city, showcasing the narrow corridors and spartan rooms that served as the center of Ukrainian leadership in the early days of the war. He recounted receiving a critical warning from then-U.S. President Joe Biden, urging him to evacuate Kyiv. “I said I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition,” Zelenskyy stated in the video, as reported by the Ukrainian news agency, Ukrinform.
The bunker, constructed during the Soviet era as a civil defense facility, consists of a network of interconnected spaces used by the presidential office, the cabinet of ministers, and parliament. Images released by the Ukrainian presidential office present simple rooms furnished with tables, chairs, televisions, and Ukrainian flags. A large map of Ukraine, adorned with a white dove and the inscription “God Save Ukraine,” hangs near the entrance to the presidential office, according to the Agence France-Presse.
“It was in this office, in this small room in the bunker on Bankova Street, that I had my first conversation with world leaders when the war began,” Zelenskyy said. He detailed how the bunker became a crucial hub for coordinating aid deliveries, ensuring that weapons, medicine, and food reached besieged cities.
Despite suffering “catastrophic losses,” Zelenskyy maintained that Russia had not succeeded in breaking the will of the Ukrainian people or achieving victory in the conflict. “We have defended our independence, and we have not lost our statehood,” he declared in a social media post. He emphasized that Ukraine is not merely a geographical entity but a recognized actor on the international stage.
The anniversary of the invasion was also marked by visits from a number of European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa. Their presence signaled continued solidarity with Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Moscow indicated that its military operation in Ukraine would continue, stating that its “special military operation” would proceed until its objectives are met, according to a statement by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, as reported by the TASS news agency.
The War Research Institute, a Washington-based think tank, reported that Russia has only managed to occupy 0.79% of Ukrainian territory over the past year of fighting, a figure Zelenskyy cited as evidence of Ukraine’s resilience against a numerically superior and well-equipped Russian military.
