Defiant Ukrainians facing a terrifying war anniversary barrage from Moscow vowed to stand fast tonight despite the horror they are facing.
In the tense streets of the capital Kyiv ordinary people admitted being scared but are harnessing the bravery of their troops to defy Kremlin aggression.
One worker dedicated to rebuilding destroyed buildings in Kyiv told us sternly: “They can knock us down but we keep getting back up again.
“It must be frightening for the Russians to see that we can not only stand up to them but now we will show them how we will win this conflict.
“Yes it can be frightening but we are Ukrainians and we are together.”
A female student admitted: “Of course I am scared - but it is what you do with that fear that is important.”
The Daily Mirror returned to Kyiv just before Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his latest deluded speech, threatening the west for supporting Ukraine.
It was quickly countered by one from US President Joe Biden who vowed to continue helping Ukraine.
Putin’s two hour rant was peppered throughout with claims of Russia being a victim rather than an aggressor, its troops committing murder, rape and torture.
Ludicrously he even claimed: “We aren’t fighting the Ukrainian people.
“The Ukrainian people have become hostages of the Kyiv regime and its western masters, which have effectively occupied the country.”
His war on western-leaning Ukraine has killed over 145,000 of his own troops and an horrific number of Ukrainian civilians and military personnel.
Moscow’s invasion which began on February 24 has cost Russia a staggering 3,326 tanks as of today, and almost 300 warplanes.
Few people outside Russia’s propaganda dominated population believe his twisted lies and certainly they were roundly ignored by the Ukrainians we met.
In Kyiv’s Pecherskyi district the four star Alfavito hotel is being rebuild by three hard-working construction workers - just weeks after it was missiled.
One of them Oleksiy drew on his cigarette and said: “I have lost a dear friend in this war as he was killed in Hostomel on the third day and I miss him dearly.
“He had three children and it is very sad.”
The building he is renewing was hit in Russia’s New Year onslaught against the people of Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine.
Within weeks builders had been commissioned and are now working round the clock to make it habitable once more.
His co-worker Andriy added: “We will keep rebuilding Ukraine. Russia will not win this war.
“Every Ukrainian is defiant. Of course we are. This is our country and we decide what happens to it.
“We only know about this building and we cannot see the rest of Ukraine - but this will be happening everywhere.”
Two students, Kate, 20 and Nastaia, 17, tell us they are “very nervous” about the Friday anniversary of the invasion but added: “We are Ukrainian- it’s okay to be scared but we fight.”
Both young women are from Sumy Oblast, and their families live just 15 miles from Russia.
Nastaia, who is studying international relations, says: "My father can see the missiles launching into the sky and heading for Kyiv - it makes him frightened for me.
“Of course I am scared - but it is what you do with that fear that is important.
“Above all, I am Ukrainian. We are courageous and we are right.”
Kyiv’s Independence Square is adorned with tiny Ukrainian flags celebrating the bravery of the country’s troops in fighting off The Kremlin’s marauding forces.
Some of these flags fluttering in the bitter cold even mark the courage of the many “foreigners” who came to Ukraine and gave their lives to fight.
Twisted and burned-out Russian tanks blown up into grotesque shapes are displayed in front of the enormous Sophia Cathedral in Sofiyska Square.
These carcases of what was once a killing machine are strikingly awful in front of a place of worship - but Ukraine unashamedly wants the world to see it all.
Taxi driver Vlad, from Zaoporizhzhia in the south east is just 21 and fled his home region to escape the Russian invasion.
Most of his family has fled to Germany but he cannot leave as all men aged between 18 and 60 have to remain in Ukraine.
He says: ”For sure the Russians will attack Kyiv - they love to celebrate their special dates and anniversaries.
“When that happens I will take shelter in the Metro to try and be safe. It is the sensible thing to do.
“But each shelling is no different than the other. After a while you are not as frightened as the time before.
“A lot of my friends have fled and are now staying in the west of Ukraine or Kyiv.”
Asked if he was frightened he flashed a brief look of anger and smiled.
“I am not frightened of Russia. I am used to what they do. We are Ukrainians together.
“I love my country and it is us, Ukraine, that decides what happens to it. Not Russia. Not ever.”
Throughout his speech Putin self-victimised Russia, constantly claiming Moscow was under threat.
He said: “Western elites aren’t trying to conceal their goals to inflict a ‘strategic defeat’ to Russia.
“They intend to transform the local conflict into a global confrontation.”
And despite Ukraine’s civilians once again facing a barrage of missiles aimed precisely at them Putin denied any wrongdoing.
On the ground on Tuesday, the Ukrainian military said Russian forces shelled southern cities of Kherson and Ochakiv while Mr Putin spoke, killing six people.
US President Joe Biden followed up by saying Moscow’s invasion has hardened western resolve.
Returning to the Polish castle where he spoke shortly after the invasion began last year, he warned there are “hard and bitter days ahead”, but pledged that the US and its allies will “have Ukraine’s back” as the war enters its second year.
He went on: “Democracies of the world will stand guard over freedom today, tomorrow and forever.
His speech came a day after his unannounced trip to Kyiv, where he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He declared: “Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud.”
