Defiant Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has hit back at threats from Moscow, declaring that even if he were assassinated, Ukraine would not fall.
In a fiery response aimed squarely at the Kremlin, Zelensky brushed off fears of Russian plots against his life and insisted the nation’s resistance would continue regardless of his fate.
“Killing me won’t break Ukraine,” he said, dismissing what he described as intimidation tactics from Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Defiance in the face of threats
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky has repeatedly been the target of alleged assassination attempts. But the Ukrainian president has consistently portrayed himself as unbowed, often appearing in public in Kyiv despite security risks.
His latest remarks signal a message not only to Moscow, but to Ukrainians and Western allies: the country’s fight does not depend on one man.
“Ukraine is bigger than any individual,” he has previously said. “Our people decide our future.”
Message to the Kremlin
Zelensky’s comments are widely seen as a direct rebuke to Putin, amid ongoing war tensions and reports of covert Russian operations. Ukrainian officials have long claimed Moscow has sought to destabilise Kyiv through both military and intelligence operations.
Security analysts say such rhetoric reflects the psychological dimension of the war, with both sides seeking to project resilience and strength.
War far from over
The remarks come as fighting continues across multiple fronts, with Ukraine pushing for sustained Western military and financial support. Zelensky’s tone suggests he is determined to project confidence at a time when negotiations remain stalled and battlefield conditions remain volatile.
For Kyiv, the message is clear: leadership can be targeted — but the state, and its resolve, endure.
