Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day on Monday under the shadow of continued Russian attacks, with one regional security expert arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is „panicked“ as Ukrainian forces strike deeper inside Russia.
The anniversary, commemorating Ukraine’s Aug. 24, 1991, declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, came amid intensified Russian strikes on civilian infrastructure and heightened security concerns after Ukraine’s Security Service warned of possible terrorist attacks ahead of the holiday.
European leaders joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv for Independence Day events in a show of support as the war grinds on. Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine wants peace but is not prepared to surrender to Moscow’s demands.
A Russian drone strike Friday on a packed shopping center in Kryvyi Rih, Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed at least 16 people and injured 130, according to The Associated Press.
‘PURE HELL’ IN MOSCOW AS UKRAINIAN DRONES STRIKE MAJOR REFINERY SUPPLYING CAPITAL’S FUEL MARKET
Putin has warned that Ukrainian strikes on Russian economic targets open a „Pandora’s box,“ while Kyiv maintains deep strikes are vital to disrupting Moscow’s logistics.
Ukraine has targeted Russian economic infrastructure, including warehouses belonging to online retailers Wildberries and Ozon.
„The war with Russia has seen a lot of advances for the Ukrainians over this year,“ former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Carrie Filipetti, now executive director of the Vandenberg Coalition, told Fox News Digital.
„They’ve recently been able to actually penetrate much deeper into Russian territory, including close to Moscow and St. Petersburg.“
„Their success on the military front has now resulted in the Russians getting panicked and starting to attack more inside Ukraine and what they’re really trying to do is weaken their will and capabilities,“ Filipetti said, adding that Putin „gets very anxious when he’s put in a corner.“
„What we’re seeing is these sorts of gasps at trying to retain some kind of control,“ Filipetti added. „This is why he recently targeted a shopping mall inside Ukrainian territory. He is not focused on targeting military assets. He is really focused on trying to defeat the will of Ukrainians by attacking them.“
RUSSIA UNLEASHES NEARLY 600 MISSILES AND DRONES ON KYIV IN DEADLIEST STRIKE SINCE MAY
Filipetti warned the targeting of civilian areas created heightened security risks as Ukraine marked its 35th Independence Day, more than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Several European leaders traveled to Kyiv for Ukraine’s Independence Day events, including European Council President António Costa and leaders from Finland, Lithuania, Norway, Denmark, Estonia and Latvia.
Filipetti said the high-level participation underscored continued international support for Ukraine.
TRUMP’S TURKEY ARMS SALE PROPOSAL SPARKS CONGRESSIONAL QUESTIONS BEFORE NATO SUMMIT
„Independence Day is a really important moment for the allies of the Ukrainians to really show that we are not losing steam, that we continue to support their operations, to continue to support their sovereignty,“ Filipetti said. „But anytime there’s massive public gatherings, particularly to demonstrate patriotism and support for the Ukrainian state, it increases the security risk.“
Ukrainian authorities urged citizens to stay vigilant on public transport and guard against potential sabotage or sharing media that could reveal military positions, as well as possible attacks, Ukrainian News reported.
„They should be particularly mindful about sharing any videos or photographs that could betray the locations of some of their frontline soldiers,“ Filipetti warned.
Monday’s holiday came after a lethal exchange of drone and missile strikes. Ukrainian officials reported at least seven deaths from Russian attacks, while a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Krasnodar region killed three, according to Russian officials, The Associated Press reported.
„The Russians really want to bleed the Ukrainians of people, equipment, and will before the Russians are bled of those same three things,“ Filipetti said. „And what we’ve seen over the course of this year is almost no territorial gains on behalf of the Russians.“
They are losing more soldiers each month than they can recruit, forcing them to rely on North Korean, Cuban and other foreign fighters to fill the gap, Filipetti added.
ZELENSKYY SAYS PUTIN ‘LOST THE INITIATIVE’ AS UKRAINE’S TECH INDUSTRY RESHAPES THE WAR
„Remember, Putin thought that this was going to be a special military operation that was going to last a matter of weeks,“ Filipetti said.
Ultimately, she emphasized that Ukraine’s resolve delivers a firm deterrent beyond Moscow.
„It sends a message to the Russians that any invasion of sovereign territory, like their invasion of Ukraine, is going to create more consequences for them,“ Filipetti said. „We are not losing steam, and we continue to support their operations, to continue to support their sovereignty.“
Filipetti said it also sends an important message to other American adversaries like China.
„These adversaries of the United States really learned from how the United States handles conflicts in other theaters. It’s really important that our adversaries of China, Russia, Iran, and others understand that if they invade another country unilaterally, there are going to be consequences, not rewards.“
Putin ‘panicked’ as defiant Ukraine marks Independence Day under Russian bombardment 2026
IUSTITIA.BG – Investigations 2009-2026 2026-08-24 22:56:40
Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law
