Ukraine is not just a country at war. It is a country that systematically refuses to die. Our story goes back more than a thousand years. In the 9th century, the state of Kyivan Rus’ rose on the banks of the Dnipro River - a powerful centre of trade, science, and culture. Later came the Cossacks - fierce warriors of the steppe, free people who chose their own leaders and defended their land with unmatched courage.
In the 20th century, as empires collapsed after World War I, Ukrainians again declared independence. We fought wars, raised our national flag, and for a short time established our own republic. But surrounded by stronger powers, Ukraine was crushed, divided and occupied. Yet even then, the dream of freedom never died.