When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the capital Kyiv was predicted to fall within 72 hours. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy risked his own life to stay put and resist, declaring his nation's resolve to defend its right to independence.

Drawing on interviews with the president's closest aides, official government releases and global media reports, we shed fresh light on events that have set in motion a new era of global polarization and instability.