As Ukraine marks the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Andriy Biletsky, commander of the Third Army Corps, emphasizes the importance of maintaining sovereignty and the ability to defend against future threats. In a recent blog post, he reflects on the nation’s resilience and the collective decision to fight back against aggression.
Biletsky recalls the initial expectations from Russian forces, who aimed to capture Kyiv within three days. Four years later, they have not fully occupied any region of Ukraine. He asserts that Ukraine’s endurance is not solely due to external support but rather the resolve of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who chose to resist.
He describes the early battles, noting that Ukrainian forces successfully pushed back Russian troops, who abandoned their equipment and dead. Biletsky highlights that captured Russian tanks and equipment continue to serve in Ukrainian units, demonstrating the ongoing impact of these initial confrontations.
In his analysis, Biletsky argues that Ukraine requires a genuine peace that preserves its sovereignty and future defense capabilities. He warns against the dangers of conceding territory in exchange for a superficial peace, suggesting that Russia would exploit any pause to regroup and attempt to rewrite the narrative of its failures.
He raises concerns about the implications of ceding Ukrainian land, questioning the guarantees that such actions would not lead to further territorial losses in cities like Kharkiv, Odesa, and Zaporizhzhia under the threat of renewed conflict.
Biletsky asserts that the primary peacekeeper is the Ukrainian soldier on the front lines, and the only path to lasting peace is to halt the enemy’s advance along the front. He believes that only then will Russian forces be compelled to negotiate genuinely, rather than offering deceptive terms.
Reflecting on the past four years, he confidently states that Russia has failed to capture Kyiv and break the spirit of Ukraine, asserting that they will not succeed in forcing Ukraine into capitulation through deceit.
Ukrainian commander Andriy Biletsky stresses the need for true peace that safeguards Ukraine's sovereignty as the nation reflects on the anniversary of Russia's invasion. He warns against territorial concessions and emphasizes the role of Ukrainian soldiers in ensuring lasting peace.