Zelenskyy Reflects on Ukraine's Resilience as War with Russia Enters Fourth Year
Marking Four Years of Conflict
On Tuesday, as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia reached its fourth anniversary, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy unveiled the underground facility from which he coordinated the nation's initial response to the invasion. To commemorate this significant milestone, Zelenskyy shared a nearly 19-minute video on his X account, filmed within the bunker complex, providing one of the most detailed glimpses of the site located beneath central Kyiv. He asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin's ambitions were thwarted, and he could not diminish the determination of the Ukrainian populace. “This office, this small room in the bunker on Bankova Street, is where I held my first conversations with world leaders at the start of the war,” he stated in his national address.
During his message, Zelenskyy recounted a crucial moment when then-US President Joe Biden advised him to evacuate Ukraine immediately, offering assistance for his departure. “Here I spoke with President Joe Biden, and it was right here that I heard: ‘Volodymyr, there is a threat. You need to leave Ukraine urgently. We are ready to help with that,'” he recalled, seated in a black leather chair within the compact, white-walled bunker.
Today marks exactly four years since Putin started his three-day push to take Kyiv. And that says a great deal about our resistance, about how Ukraine has fought all this time. Behind those words stand millions of our people, immense courage, incredibly hard work, endurance, and… pic.twitter.com/9qiqACurhx
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 24, 2026
He emphasized his commitment to the fight, stating, “I need ammunition, not a ride,” a remark attributed to him by the Ukrainian embassy in Britain shortly after the war commenced. The bunker featured in the video appeared to be a substantial Soviet-era bomb shelter, designed to ensure the Ukrainian government could operate during a significant assault on Kyiv. The footage revealed compact rooms designated for various government branches, including the presidency, the cabinet, and parliament, each furnished with chairs, a television, and Ukrainian flags.
Wires and gas pipes were visible along the walls and ceilings, while blue-and-yellow signs, symbolizing the Ukrainian flag, guided viewers through the intricate tunnels. Bright posters celebrating Ukraine's military efforts and its soldiers provided vibrant contrasts to the green emergency exit signs and the red-and-white safety tape that adorned the low ceilings. The address, released early Tuesday, sought to inspire Ukrainians by evoking the spirit of resistance that characterized the nation at the onset of the conflict, which Russia labeled a “special military operation.”
As the years of conflict drag on, Kyiv faces increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump, who took office in January 2025, to consider a peace agreement that might require Ukraine to concede territory to Russia. Additionally, war fatigue is growing, exacerbated by ongoing missile and drone attacks from Russian forces.