Zelensky vows to continue fighting as Ukraine marks independence day

• Posted on August 25, 2025August 25, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would continue to fight for its freedom “while its calls for peace are not heard,” in a defiant address to the nation on its independence day.

“We need a just peace, a peace where our future will be decided only by us,” he said, adding that Ukraine was “not a victim, it is a fighter”.

He continued: “Ukraine has not yet won, but it has certainly not lost.”

Zelensky’s remarks came after Moscow said Ukraine had attacked Russian power and energy facilities overnight, blaming drone attacks for a fire at a nuclear power plant in its western Kursk region.

The Ukrainian government’s Centre for Countering Disinformation said it had been reported that the shooting down of a drone allegedly caused the fire.

The centre blamed Russia for “spreading manipulations” and said Russia’s accusation that Ukraine of “allegedly carrying out targeted strikes” on the power plant” are typical methods” of Russian propaganda.

There were no injuries, and the fire was quickly extinguished, the plant’s press service said on messaging app Telegram. It said the attack had damaged a transformer, but radiation levels were within the normal range.

The United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was aware of reports regarding the fire, but could not independently confirm them. Its director general said “every nuclear facility must be protected at all times”.

The IAEA has repeatedly called on both Russia and Ukraine to show maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war.

Also on Sunday, Russia and Ukraine both confirmed a prisoner swap had taken place, with 146 soldiers on each side being exchanged.

Russia’s defence ministry also said eight people from Russia’s Kursk region, which was partially occupied by Ukraine for several months, handed over and would return home.

Zelensky said those returned by Russia included soldiers, border guards and civilians, most of whom have been in captivity since 2022.

He also said journalist Dmytro Khilyuk, who was “kidnapped in the Kyiv region” at the start of the war, was coming home.

Independence Day celebrations were held in Kyiv, as the country marked its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney took part in the celebrations, and stood beside Zelensky at St Sophia’s Cathedral as he addressed the crowd:

“I want to say something very simple and important: Canada will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.”

He said drones, ammunition and armoured vehicles, part of a $2bn Canadian dollars (£1bn) military package, would be delivered to Ukraine as early as September, Ukrainian media reported. The deliveries would make up more than half of a support package he announced in July.

Also present was US envoy Keith Kellogg – whom Ukrainian media reported was awarded the Order of Merit, first degree by Zelensky during the ceremony.

After Zelensky thanked him and US President Donald Trump for their support, Kellogg could be heard telling Zelensky: “We’re going to make this work”.

The Ukrainian president published a letter he received from Trump on X, which congratulated Ukraine on 34 years of independence and said “now is the moment to bring an end to the senseless killing”.

Zelensky thanked the US for “standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine”.

“We believe that by working together, we can put an end to this war and achieve real peace for Ukraine,” he added.

-BBC