Ukraine marks ‘1000 days of resilience’ against Russia
Ukraine wasn’t expected to withstand Russia’s invasion beyond several days, but 1000 of them later, they’re still fighting with the same grit as the first.
But the war was taking a major toll on the Ukrainian people and its diaspora, Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said.
Military aid and support from the West, including Australia, has been vital for Kyiv’s ability to repel the Kremlin’s invasion, which has hit the 1000-day mark, he said.
“It has been essential for us and vital to make sure we can defend ourselves,” he told AAP.
“Nobody believed we could last longer than 10 days or 100 days let alone 1000 days.”
Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops to the frontlines in Ukraine showed how the war impacted the Indo-Pacific security dynamics, Mr Myroshnychenko said.
He called for the Kremlin to be held accountable as any victory in Ukraine would set a precedent for using military might to change the international order.
“If Russia can get away with using force to change borders, why can’t North Korea do it? Why can’t other authoritarians do it?”
As such, any military aid for Ukraine was “an investment in deterrence, it’s not charity”.
Australia has most recently donated Abrams tanks that were due to be replaced by a newer model, with military aid for Ukraine surpassing $1 billion since the start of Russia’s invasion.
Mr Myroshnychenko is hoping for their expedited delivery before the European summer and is calling for Australia to donate any further decommissioned equipment, specifically Tiger helicopters.
“The security situation in Ukraine remains critical,” he said.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong issued her support in a post on social media marking “1000 days of pain and tragedy (and) 1000 days of courage and determination by Ukrainians as they fight for freedom”.
The Ukrainian people had endured the war “with unmistakeable courage and unmatched resilience”, opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said as he commemorated brave Ukrainians.
“If Ukraine prevails and prospers, all nations will be a little safer. If Ukraine is abandoned or weakened, autocrats and tyrants will be emboldened,” he said.
More than 2400 children have been killed or injured since the start of the conflict as “the toll on children is staggering and unacceptable”, Unicef executive director Catherine Russell said.
“Millions of children are living in constant fear, many spending an equivalent of up to six hours a day sheltering in basements under air raid sirens,” she said.
“Without continued and increased support for children, the psychological wounds of this war will echo through generations.”
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