Ukraine response to Russian invasion goes viral

As the world closely monitors the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainians and even the country’s president have gone viral on social media with their response. According to Belarus-based journalist Hanna Liubakova, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described himself as Russia’s top enemy.

“The enemy marked me as target number one, and my family as target number two,” President Zelenskyy said during a televised address Thursday. On Friday, a video posted on social media featured Zelenskyy out on the streets of Kyiv.

“Fraction leader is here, Head of the Presidential Office is here, Prime Minister Shmyhal is here, [Ukrainian Presidential Advisor] Podolyak is here, president is here,” Zelenskyy said. “Our troops are here, citizens are here. All of us are here protecting our independence of our country. And it will continue to be this way. Glory to our defenders, Glory to Ukraine, Glory to Heroes.”

That spirit of resistance in response to the Russian invasion appears to have spread to some of Ukraine’s people. One Twitter video going viral shows a Ukrainian woman confronting Russian soldiers in Henichesk, a port city on the sea of Azov.

“What the f*** are you doing in our land,” the woman shouted at the soldiers, according to Daily Mail. “You should put sunflower seeds in your pockets so that they will grow on Ukrainian land after you die.”

The Ukrainian people are reporting of a sign of hope in the form of the so-called “Ghost of Kyiv”. This is the name people on social media have given to the unconfirmed reports of an ace Ukrainian fighter pilot downing Russian planes. According to the New York Post, the Ghost of Kyiv is believed to have shot down four Russian fighter jets — two Su-35 Flankers, one Su-27 Flanker and one MiG-29 Fulcrum — as well as two ground-attack aircraft, so-called Su-25 Frogfoots, in the first day of fighting.

“I can’t help but feel inspired by this story, for many Ukrainians the #ghostofkyiv serves as a symbol for hope, strength and resistance,” one Twitter user tweeted. Ukraine’s defense ministry even commented on the Ghost of Kyiv, saying the videos popping up on social media may not be of just one pilot, but rather “dozens of experienced military pilots… who were previously dismissed from the military reserve” and “are returning to the #Army Air Force.”