ah, i'm raghav, it's good to have you with us on this friday. and our special coverage continues marking a year since russia began its full scale invasion of ukraine commemorations and rallies have been taking place throughout the day and around the world. in cave ukraine's president will de ms. zalinski honored his armed forces. he presented metals to serving troops and thanked families of those who have died in combat. it was a somber interlude in a war that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions of people. a problem, a grinding war of attrition has said in many would say along a 1000 kilometer frontline in ukraine. we look now at how moscow's initial plan faltered and what the next steps might be. as the kremlin ramps up a new offensive one year ago,

rush their attacks ukraine from 3 sides in the north. armored units came over the border from russia's ally, belarus. they were air and land attacks from russia itself in the east and from the south. forces flowed from russia, occupy crimea. russia's navy also attacked from the black c o ukrainian soon, so that the russians had under estimated been a massive collin of russian tanks, heading towards ki if was stopped in its tracks. the battle the key if was lost and it was clear that wouldn't be the quick victory. the moscow that many expected by april russian troops had retreated from the north. they regrouped to focus their efforts on the east and the south. the strategic se and port city of mary people had been surrounded since the early days of the war. and in may, it finally fell to russian forces. the city that had been home to 450000 people,

lay in ruins, but russian victories remain. few and far between in september, ukraine's military surprised russia with a lightning offensive that reclaimed large sways of the hockey of region. ukraine then proceeded to liberate the city of her son too, in a major humiliation for the russian army russian troop morale was said to be low. meanwhile, ukraine was benefiting from an increasing flow of high tech western weapons, including the high mars multiple rocket launcher. this allowed key of forces to hit far behind enemy lines, cutting off supply routes and hitting ammunition depos. since re taking har give and her son, the front line has been mainly stable with russia focused on capturing the city of back malt. this is part of an effort to take the entirety of the done yet so no hands province is one of russia's original stated goals. so what's next?

russia has bought hundreds of thousands of new conscripts into the fight. but the latest offensive pushing along the front line in the dumbass as so far yielded no major gains for russia. what? meanwhile, ukraine is also gearing up for a counter offensive, and is expecting deliveries of dozens of advance battle tanks from germany, colon written and the u. s ukrainian soldiers are also getting training from nato on sophisticated military maneuvers that could help them punch through the russian lines and take back more territory. how far they can go is another question. it's clear that key if can only keep fighting as long as the weapons keep flowing from its western allies. and on this one year anniversary, ukrainian president zalinski spoke with reporters. he laid out his conditions for possible talks with russia aimed at ending the fight. so we

need to start from scratch, we need to go back to what was violated iraq to live on our land needs to be arrested back did leave our territory withdraw. stop shaylynn ah, stop killing civilians to stop destroying our infrastructure. energy. sag triple potable water was tampa. huh. air strikes on the city. stop killing dogs, cats. animalism. the stars burning the forest. so you go ahead and stop doing all of that. and only after that to will tell you what form it will be used to diplomatically. ah, put an end to it. ok, now enter corresponding pony for charge. she is in cave. she was at that press

conference, listening to the ukrainian president. funny as good to see you. i mean, it was a marathon long press conference and arguably, the most important that zalinski has as ever given and talked to me about the tone that the president struck here. i mean, how much defiance did we hear and how much of willingness to talk did you sense? first of all, we have that. as you just said, we have experienced a press conference that usually do not expect in a country at war was more than 2 hours during which he, i took on all these questions a by journalist from the rural of basically the rural. it was in that room represented by various journalists, and it was very important to him that actually he's not just a cat, was trucks, this voice of being approachable to all of these questions. but oftentimes even struck a very colloquial tone that he's so one that in despite distress,

despite the pressure that he's a facing being at president during war times is someone it is actually reaching out, at least that was his message today that he wants to make sure it's not just like the speak, for example, i representatives from europe, for example, the prime minister of italy was here, ah, the spanish prime minister today out the prime minister from poland. and of course, only these to be president biden from the united states. he wants to make sure that he brings more more countries on board, specifically those countries, for example, african countries and southern american countries. but also india and china. that so far, i didn't signal much support a be it actively or just rhetorically, even if you look at the vote in the general assembly for example, any new york. and as a result, you really tried to use this platform as this international media gathering,

basically to spread this message that he's the one was to reach out, but under the terms of ukraine, he's the one who says who's going to have a peace plan and he's the one wants to invite china and the chinese president, she jumping to talk about that. so he is very much determined to a, to actually be in control. obviously how things go forward. the question is, if these countries that he just mentioned, i going to be a part of that and dissipates a in a, in a, at the summit that he is that he's is, is planning to have at some point. yet it either he has been called the unlikeliest of war time, but presidents at the same time, people all around the world have praised him for his ability to communicate with the public. and we saw that in action again to day him describing some very personal moments the past 12 months. now ask you, you've been covering the story now for more than a year. i mean, do you think the, his communication style is, is it strengthening his message?

i mean, is he going to get what he wants, by communicating the way does as you remember when this will began or, or in fact days before that. and we heard a things from germany, for example, that they are going to send some helmets as a, as a, as a form of support. and if we look back really the rhetoric a year ago, a from so many politicians were so torn down and, and really it wasn't as determined as it is right now. nobody was talking about sending military tanks to ukraine. so whether that's due to president zelinski, zalinski way of communication politically, or just a pure fact that the world has relies to parts of this world has realized that he's on the side of ukraine politically, militarily. and that we got to unit hearing aid. but it, he just simply realized that russia can threaten them as well, or whether it's due to a zelinski politics. i'm not the one to, to, to analyze that. but certainly,

what i can say is that this president is not just the one that he's trying to, as i say, appear very approachable, but certainly as social media president, every day since roches full scale invasion, he has taken to social media to spread the message. so he wants to use actually a media and international media, but also local media here a to make sure that people have a long breath and the must have a longer breath year in order to, to bring this war to the end. and he is courting on the people through the media. he's calling on his own people. he says, who left ukraine and hopes that they are going to return and rebuild this country. yeah, yeah. the juxtaposition between zalinski and what am recruitment could not be stranger stronger. when, if a char and key as always fun, thank the ukrainian city of boot. chuck, it is a suburb of kiva, and it is now known for the trail of death and destruction left behind by the

russian occupation. human rights experts say that it is a war crime scene with evidence of summary executions, torture and enforced. if appearances d. w special correspondent i ibrahim met one resident of boucher who is on a quest to find justice for his family. all that alexander check mary of ever wanted was to keep his family safe. he brought them to boucher after russian backed forces attacked their hometown in eastern ukraine in 2014. the check mary of spot a house and made it how much than we lydia. so it was said that we could escape the war ahead of me, but we did not put in, found us even in butcher. it was thought massey, you couldn't full scale war and ukraine. february 2022 brought russian troops to alexander's doorstep. his children could no longer take the sound of

shelling. their father brought them here, a shelter under their home and planned their 2nd escape. while the chick marianne left one early morning in their car with their neighbor holly out behind them, they barely made it out of their street. when they saw a russian armored vehicle where he will not go go, i'm you know, at that of the fact returned my wife shout. let's turn around. we didn't and managed to get away. you sing the results of the shooting begun and my car caught fire with zodiac. sir alexander was wounded, but when he looked back, his wife and children were dead looking so stood emily. this is the end of his story. the story of my wife and my children. the sidewalk is still charged from when alexander's car caught fire, marking the exact spot where he last saw his family alive. alexander story, sadly that of so many here in boucher, their reports of torture, rape,

an extra judicial killings where i'm standing right now. this actually used to be the sight of a mass grave of civilians. they all had to be exempt, identified and re buried when ukrainian forces retook the town. almost a year on. the question in every one's mind is, where is justice and can it ever be delivered? ukraine's prosecutor general has set up a web page where anyone can report a legit war crimes committed by russian forces. authorities have received almost 70000 cases, a number that goes up every day in the key of region alone, which includes boucher, that numbers 10000. a prosecutor for the jurisdiction tells me through the whole list of who we are identifying the names of persons soldiers investigating preparing charges and bring them to court both upon the problem. well, no one has through the thought of william,

such as limitations does not apply to will crumbs or working non stop principle. so far, nationwide, 25 russian troops have been convicted for war crimes. the international criminal court and the un have also opened up their own investigations. but justice can be slow, often taking years to examine crimes committed in minutes, minutes. that will stay with alexander forever. he's spoken to both ukrainian and international investigators, hoping it might help with the pain for them to watch it. i want to look this people in the i us. that's when a will know that they have been punished thus i am sure i will feel much better when there are results and none just legal procedures. but the thought that is people who have been get any shock he to knew the booklet on. for now,

he kept his family home exactly as it was. the children's toys are still in their drawers. the bet sheets are fresh and their pictures are everywhere. it's not always easy being surrounded by reminders of the life he's lost. but until alexander finds justice for his family, that is all he's got will i'm joined now by e. gore. java. he is the deputy head of the office of ukrainian president zalinski and he joins us now from keith. it's good to have you on the program. you know, you are one of the people who has the ear of president zalinski and i want to start by asking you about a report that has just come across. that is the president has agreed. says he plans to meet with chinese president. she's in pain on can you explain to the, our viewers? what's the purpose of meeting with the chinese president? does your president believe that china can be a credible piece mediator?

my friend the leaves on the wisdom of chinese people in chinese leadership. that old china really important not only the a very sexual to say, but the world white and you know, china was always a little across the street and it was the history of all the world. so that is why when my present speaking about a potential phone call would present, she'd be, wish by that way, has never happened in these open aggression of russia against your credit so, or wasn't happy to hear my person. the said that he's ready to share with the president. she you great. understand what's going on. you understand. you want to rush no rush. i guess the country in the sense of you, you claims understanding how we want to bring peace, not only to your brain, but the least part of the world. you,

you brain person who share with the 10 points these formula. all right? which is actually the formula about how to bring peace, not only on the battlefield, but how the prize, russia from its interest of instruments in the area on the battlefield. yeah, because the food security, the environmental protection in the un charter, etc. so definitely want to talk about yes with mr. let me ask you. i know that the united states has said that it has intelligence that would suggest that china is possibly sending lethal military aid to russia that could be used against ukrainians. has the united states have they shared that intelligence with your president? well, what we heard from the official representative of china was a need to know a foreign minister in we could go in during the minister to conference. that

a r d was for a nor age planning something over time. and you've and you believe the chinese in are, are not sending lethal military 8. and i believe will know in the matter of the information. and i told you what the information you've received from chinese site . how do you see things progressing? i mean, a year ago, many analysts were expecting a very quick victory for the russian military. we know that that is certainly not what happened. how do you see things developing the next 12 months? you probably want us to say listen to those so called as a military experts. i have boston only with not only with surviving, but we managed to take back almost 50 percent of the territory and officer has managed to capture after the open. the rest of the 24th of february last year

provide you did to west dd manor, provide ukraine with the necessary weapons necessary for counter offensive because definitely to your friend has to gained momentum and has to have the same thing. and we are still in the, at the end of the previous year when the deliberative decide on areas of the brain, part of the south of the playfulness job song, song you more than if i get it. so from i you have enough, are you ready? and again to long raced with the necessary ammunition providing that have enough battle tanks and today. good news your so you and i more vehicles provided you have enough air defense to to protect the land you play. we are going to be definitely doing, trying to counter offensive across the whole territory. you know, to near the indefinitely. you heard my presence several times. we want to speak to happen this year. and assuming you get all the weapons that president zalinski says his force, his need is president zalinski going to stand by his position that

a victory will have to include all eastern ukrainian territories, including the crimean peninsula being returned to ukraine. absolutely, because we cannot trade and we can not, you know, ah, have any kinds of deal on each or any show any centimeter, any medium grains territory. just to remind you the aggression starting on wednesday 22 is 7. 1240 in the crimea finance. with the legal exam to the next session on the crimea peninsula and dennis rental went to the boss, the warrant would not react by that time, swiftly, only in july, monday, may 17th lane was down the reaction started to 4. o. now today we have to finish where it was started when person was starting, either doing boss and definitely in the ukrainian grainy, mister e, gore joker,

the deputy head of the office of the president of ukraine. we appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. we know today has been a very busy day for you and your colleagues. thank you. and get well, today the un security council in new york also held a special session to mark one year since rushes invasion of ukraine, germany foreign minister, angelina bare bach address the council. a little while ago calling the war in you quain ukraine. quote, hooton's war, ticklish. this war is not the world war. this war is not the war of the russian people. this war is put in swamp. the russian president is risking the future of his own country, of his own soldiers, his own children. that's why a just peace, a peace plan presented yesterday by the 141 states. and the general assembly is also in the interest of the people of russia and the big table with me. now i'm

happy to be able to say that my colleague or senior political analyst melinda crane, is here with us. you were following events today at the un. what did you make of the german foreign ministers address in the message? it was a very strong, a very emotional speech. she referred to the massacre in boucher for example. you saw the report earlier tragic report about those mass murders and war crimes and said do we want to be responsible for more bushes? we leaders and i think, you know, it's precisely that eloquence that was the reason why ukraine itself asked that she'd be the last person to speak in yesterday's general assembly session. where it was so crucial to win more support. especially from some of the countries of the global south, including brazil and ukraine's feeling and the feeling of many others was she is the kind of speaker who can do that. nonetheless, today's speech was perhaps

a bit more subdued than yesterday's. and she clearly paid a recognition to the limitations of the security council as it stands today. it to my next question, i mean, what impact can this debate at the un security council really have? frankly, the locus of action has actually shifted to the general assembly. we used to call that a talking shot. it will these days. it's the security council that is now the talking shop because rushes the tow means that any real decisive action. and this is the central organ of the united nations responsible for peace and security, which is able, in fact, to direct countries with binding resolutions. this is essentially now an impotent oregon because of that russian veto. and she, she essentially referenced that. but she also reference something else, even when the security council can't enforce international norms, it can reinforce them by calling out aggression by naming, blaming,

shaming. and certainly that was part of what she was trying to do. i want to get your take on what we have seen in the last 12 hours or so coming from china. this proposed piece plan be do we have to take this in beijing, presenting itself as a possible piece mediate. right. and many analysts have pointed out that they jing already has taken sides aging, has not condemned the russian invasion, as you know, they once again abstained from doing so yesterday, in that general assembly resolution so many, many commentators have said look, a country that has taken sides cannot be a credible mediator. china, of course, isn't actually officially calling this a pizza piece plan, but a position paper. it was interesting to hear president lensky is take on the whole thing. he was very, very cautious in today's press conference in referring to the chinese initiative,

saying that it was good that china's voice was being heard in this debate. very, very cautious in a very free, willing press conference where he was otherwise quite forthright. emotional. he was really choosing his words very carefully and essentially saying, you know, good that their voice is heard but, but let me tell you we are doing everything we can to prevent that. china does deliver lethal weapons to russia because that would be a game changer. and then he mentioned those words, world war 3. exactly. and he said today that there were plans to meet with johnny's president. she's in pain, he didn't aid. and again, he is trying to walk that very fine line between not excluding and not rejecting china. acknowledging that there might be some elements in this position paper that could be of interest. one of them, of course, china is clear rejection of nuclear. the use of a nuclear weapon that is a cardinal principle for ukraine in its own peace formula. and also,

the chinese position paper does make reference to territorial integrity. now, that might be interpreted either way for russia or for ukraine, but if i were ukraine, i'd certainly be looking to build on that. when i met with you a very good advice there. we'll see if you've got that year of the link you when it gets to me. she's a big melinda crane. it's always going to have your, the big table. thank you. thanks friends. with her out rushes that war of aggression president about what there's a putin has also attacked you grades, identity and its culture. so how can you create a sense of itself survive this war? in our next report we meet ukrainian art is who, whether inside their country or in exile, all c culture as a means of survival and an anchor that can hold the nation to get. i double i n a girl is named al yonah, al yonah, ukraine's best known wrapper and style icon in the studio of tv channel one plus

one. she taught herself how to wrap, and nowadays she speaks for an entire generation. her subjects, the war and the feelings it unleashes god was. paula gave him a quote, but it says, and though you'll go with her since at the start of the war, i'll yonah al yonah has been splitting her time between keys and abroad. she sings about her experiences, and europe is listening in all the repairs even be in stages. i see more of ukrainian artist arts always help to be to has connection was other, a conscious to understand us to know something new about us and see that we are created in that now with your music and on social media. the wrapper takes on putin belief, also plays an ever bigger role in her music. wrap a kind of prayer to protect her from fear in that number of situations. a blanche

if voting, of course with it's bit validator. clutch some who'd be in the hospital. dopey, stay or go. many musicians and artists battle with this decision. he decided to stay seattle's love about car chuck, pop star national hero, lead singer of oki on l z, the ukrainian cult band. ah. when the russian invasion began, he literally took to the streets or cut chic, began performing among the ruins. he often travels to the front line to experience the war, close up. nevertheless, he keeps on going with his music. actually this, this year. i mean, this is the year of music for me. oh, how unusual it songs for people. but i did, i do a lot of music. we did 175 performances in the front line. we did probably 50 or 6060 or dancers in, in europe and other countries already

a lot to come eat us. it's on the, the war has also made many ukrainian artists more determined than ever to fight the war with the means at their disposal. and to ensure that art and culture doesn't fall victim to this conflict. shaw's buddhism. well, as we mark the anniversary of this invasion, we want to look at the story of ukraine's 1st international skeleton racer. here's his story. ukrainian athlete lavished love had his cabbage is using sport to raise awareness of the atrocities of war even far away from the front lines. he's been deeply affected by the conflict. i was some people find all i was i was killed by some civilians, people, some military people is change your like you definitely you another person and i

was more emotional. mom just just shocked it. something from when i was at a world and like, we definitely don't like this world, the war is had a heavy impact on ukraine's children robbing them of their innocence. kids are not the same, like as in ours are congress because our kids like and then 9 years old, they can buy sounds. they can understand to be shockers is finding quite sick and understanding socket or like it's mine on order. and i can mine of showing or to like it's a bullets from, from a gun and something like that. and they said it edifying. had his k, which is helping by organizing training camps for kids in ukraine, which provide a welcome distraction from daily life in teach the children about friendship and respect. i am head is a 2 kids are good and keep their legs

a smile. a lot of times like having fun in childhood and like they come in funds enjoying sports. it is cave ich wants to help this generation have a bright future. despite the ongoing war, you're watching dw news, i'll be back at the top of the hour with more roll news followed by the day i hope to see you there. oh.