This morning as I sipped my coffee and reflected on the grim anniversary that February 24th has come to represent, the first thought that came to mind was “we’re still here.”
Like many others who watched the buildup to war closely, I had bags packed and my car stocked in early February 2022. Predictions of the Russians taking Kyiv in 72 hours and the evacuations of Embassies in the Ukrainian capital drove most news cycles in that month. On February 15th, 2022 Moldova Matters switched to a “quick hit” format of short release articles addressing the deepening crisis1. Things felt imminent but we didn’t know when it would begin.
On February the 24th I remained glued to media reports of progress across the suddenly massive front line. That day I wrote two articles (one, two), and reading them back now they remind me of how uncertain and confusing that time was.
In Moldova, it was clear to anyone paying attention that Russia would not stop at the Moldovan border. In later years I spoke to a Moldovan Army Officer who served at the time who said that they expected to be engaged within 7 days. Even as counterattacks slowed the Russian army’s advance on Kyiv and Kharkiv, in the South enemy forces broke through rapidly capturing Kherson. By February 26th they were outside Mykolaiv - the last real obstacle in the advance on Odesa. But there they stalled.
Ukraine won the Battle of Mykolaiv, and the Battle of Kyiv, and in subsequent years has retaken Kherson and countless other towns and cities.
When I sip my coffee in Moldova and reflect that “we’re still here,” it is due to the courage and sacrifice of so many in Ukraine. In those early days it was far from obvious that Ukraine would turn Russia back in such critical battles. It was inconceivable, at least for me, that this war would still be raging in 2026.
Back in July 2024 I sat down for a discussion that turned into a 2 episode podcast with my friend and business partner Vlad Șuleanschi. We discussed what it was like to experience those early days and how people mobilized all across Moldova to support the sudden and overwhelming influx of Ukrainian refugees. Refugees who are still here in many cases and are now members of our communities. If you’re interested, here are the 2 episodes:
Marking Four Long Years of War
Today President Maia Sandu released a short video marking the 4th anniversary of the full scale invasion. She spoke in English - the video is available here:
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu also released a statement saying:
“On February 24, 2022, I didn’t watch the war on TV. I was in Kiev. I woke up with the first explosions, the sirens didn’t even go off in the first few days, an airfield near my house was being bombed. In a few moments, the reality of millions of Ukrainians changed. They were forced to leave their homes in search of a safe shelter, and the war separated entire families, leaving behind pain and uncertainty,
Today marks four years since the Russian Federation has been waging a barbaric war against Ukraine. Four years in which the Kremlin has relentlessly bombed Ukrainian cities, hit energy infrastructure, and turned winters into a weapon against the people.
Russia has brought the war to the home of every Ukrainian and is killing innocent people to break the spirit of Ukraine. But the spirit of this people is invincible. All this time, I have seen the determination of the people not to abandon their freedom. I have seen the unity of a people that does not break, but becomes stronger and more united. I have also seen European solidarity – human solidarity – thousands of Ukrainian refugees met at the border by our citizens who fraternally opened their homes to them and offered them food and shelter.
(…)
Glory to Ukraine,”
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy marked the occasion with a series of videos and statements. In one, lasting 18 minutes and subtitled in English, he reflects on those early days of the war and shows for the first time the series of bunkers that the government operated out of when coordinating the defense of Kyiv and the rest of the nation.
Today, President Zelenskyy hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and the leaders of 9 European countries who traveled to Kyiv to show Western support for Ukraine.
This show of support was reflected by posts, videos and statements by European Embassies and diplomats in Chisinau, including the Embassies of Sweden, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Austria2, the United Kingdom, and others.
The US Embassy in Chisinau has posted no statements at the time of writing, instead featuring a profile of South Carolina as part of the 250th anniversary celebration schedule. They were also notably absent from any comment on last year’s 3rd anniversary.
Of all the posts, perhaps the most direct was the one from Romania’s Ambassador to Chisinau Cristian-Leon Turcanu. He served as Ambassador in Kyiv at the outbreak of war and wrote a lengthy post condemning the war, supporting Ukraine and reflecting on the change it wrought. All with this iconic art of the Moskva as backdrop.
“This is for the ones who stood their ground”
Russia’s defeat at the Battle of Mykolaiv stalled their offensive in the South and they have never come as close to Odesa - and therefore Moldova - as they did back in March-April 2022. Since that time Moldova has fended off mass hybrid attacks but not had to worry about Russian tanks crossing the borders.
Not while Ukraine hold’s its ground.
In those very early days it seemed as if Odesa would be a front line city in a matter of days. Many people, almost all women and children, crossed into Moldova seeking help during those days - and they got it. But back in Odesa people in the city prepared.
Reflecting on those days I’ll always think of this video - in which ordinary people fill sandbags from the public beaches for the defense of the city. The video shows the work as a band sets the rhythm and encourages the crowd playing “It’s My Life.”
Слава Україні! Героям слава!
This break in the normal schedule ran with emergency updates running through nearly June
Someone should really teach Austria how to embed a video on facebook though… linking to a government cloud so you can download a 380 MB file is old school in a bad way.