In his address on the occasion of Ukraine's Independence Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is stronger, respects itself, and does not wait for gestures of goodwill. Kyiv's response to Russia's aggression is to strike back at the enemy.

It comes as Ukraine is celebrating its independence day on Sunday, which marks the country's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called on both Russia and Ukraine to show maximum restraint around nuclear facilities in the war.