Zelensky Calls Putin A 'Sick Old Man' During Ukraine's Independence Day

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky marked Ukraine's 33rd Independence Day with a bold announcement and a pointed critique of Russian President Vladimir Putin, on August 24, 2024.

This occasion is particularly significant as it represents the third Independence Day since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Zelensky Calls Putin A 'Sick Old Man'

In a video address, Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian forces had successfully tested a new long-range drone missile named Palianytsia. Describing it as faster and more powerful than previous domestic drones, Zelensky stated, "Our enemy will now understand the Ukrainian way of retaliation-worthy, symmetrical, and long-ranged."

He added that this new weapon had already been used in a successful strike against a target in Russia, though specific details about the target or its location were not disclosed.

Zelensky used the occasion to directly criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling him a "sick old man from Red Square" and dismissing Putin's frequent nuclear threats. "A sick old man from Red Square who constantly threatens everyone with the red button will not dictate any of his red lines to us," Zelensky declared.

The Ukrainian leader also addressed the broader implications of the conflict, asserting that while Russia aimed to destroy Ukraine, the war's consequences have ultimately returned to Russia. "Russia was seeking one thing: to destroy us. Instead, today we celebrate the 33rd Independence Day of Ukraine. What the enemy brought to our land has now returned to its home," Zelensky said.

In a further display of diplomacy, the day also saw the exchange of 115 prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine, marking a rare moment of cooperation amid the ongoing conflict.

Zelensky concluded his address with a stern warning to those who seek to harm Ukraine, stating, "Anyone who wants to sow evil on our land will reap its fruit on their territory. This is not a prediction, not gloating, not blind revenge. It is justice."