The Ukrainian people are still here, still fighting and certain they will win the war, according to one of the country’s MPs.

Today marks one year since the people of Ukraine woke up to air raid sirens and bombs as the Kremlin launched its invasion.

At the time, many analysts believed Kyiv would fall within a week; however, 12 months later, there is no end in sight to what Vladimir Putin called his ‘special military operation’.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Ukraine MP Kira Rudyk said her people remain certain they can win the war.

“I am happy that we survived to this point,” she said.

“A year ago, that was not a given and I don’t think too many people believed we can survive to this point.

“So, I am extremely grateful and I am looking back to this terrifying and probably the most complicated year for my nation.

“We have gone through so much pain and destruction and atrocity but we are still here. We are still here and fighting and we know that we will win this war.

“We know that there is no alternative for us.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Newstalk (@newstalkfm)

Ms Rudyk said she believes everything Ukraine has gone through over the last year was “important for the world to see us and for the world to unite behind us”.

“There are so many things that we wanted to happen differently and faster but we also know that it was a process and right now, we feel that we are not standing alone,” she said.

“We rely on so many nations. So many people from different parts of the world who support us and vow to continue to support us.”

The "car graveyard" memorialises civilians who were shot dead in their vehicles by Russian soldiers as they tried to flee. Image: Aisling Moore/Newstalk

While today marks the first year anniversary of the Russian invasion, in Ukraine it is called the anniversary of “total war” or “total invasion” – because for them, the war began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Ms Rudyk said the visit of the US President Joe Biden last week marked the ninth anniversary of that invasion.

“For us, this war is already very long,” she said.

“It didn’t start a year ago, it started nine years ago and because Putin felt his impunity, it continued and it led to this.

“So, we know how to run those marathons. We know how to fight when nobody believes it is worth fighting.

“This is why I do believe we will stand no matter how long it will take.”

Sean Moncrieff and Aisling Moore beside destroyed Russian tanks and military equipment in Kyiv. Image: Newstalk

Asked whether the priority was to outlast Putin, Ms Rudyk said: “No, it is a matter of winning faster.”

“What Putin wants is to [make] this war a war of attrition; like a long one,” she said.

“It is just a matter of us uniting the forces right now. Removing all the roadblocks, having enough of the weapons so we do not face them empty-handed and hitting back and getting back all of our territories.

“Liberating our people. This is the goal.”

She said, this time next year, she wants to see her country entering a post-war phase where it is rebuilding, showing innovations and having a public conversation about “how quickly we should be joining the UN and NATO”.

You can listen back here:

Main image is a file photo of Ukraine MP Kira Rudyk, 05-06-2020. Image: Taras Khimchak / Alamy