Vladimir Putin may have thought that he was going to roll right over Ukraine and grab what he could quickly.

While there’s no doubt that he has the benefit of military superiority in weapons and numbers, the Ukrainians are not only tough fighters, they are fighting for their nation and they are showing a lot of raw courage in response to the Russian attack.

We reported on Thursday how 13 border guards told Russia they weren’t giving up and literally to “go f**k yourself” before Russia bombed the island; it is believed took them out.

last words for some incredibly brave ukrainians pic.twitter.com/cRYCzGRQtB

— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) February 25, 2022

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed them all as heroes.

Zelensky himself is behaving as a courageous leader should. He had the opportunity to leave, knowing he was in his words, “target number one” on the Russian hit list. But the comedian and television star — the guy some thought was the joke candidate, the outsider who like President Donald Trump surprisingly won the seat — is staying to do what he can to give strength and support his nation. Here he was just a short time ago, telling his people: we, the leaders, are here and we are not leaving.

⚡️Ukraine’s Zelensky posts a new video of himself and his team outside the presidential administration in Kyiv’s government quarter after rumors in Russian media that he’d fled. “We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine.” pic.twitter.com/bgHyrsbVFs

— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) February 25, 2022

You don’t need the full translation to see the courage. But here it is.

“Good evening to you all. The head of the ruling party is here, the Chief of the office of the President is here, the PM is here, the President is here, we are all here, our army is here, the people of Ukraine are here. We are all here. We are fighting for our independence, our country and thus it will be. Glory to Ukraine.”

Here’s former president Petro Poroshenko saying he’s with a citizen brigade in the street with a Kalashnikov, and they will hold out (fight) Putin, “forever.”

“How long do you think you can hold out?”

“Forever.”

Former Ukrainian President @poroshenko takes up a Kalashnikov rifle alongside civilian defense forces as he speaks to @JohnBerman from the streets of Kyiv. pic.twitter.com/jxGl6BKgZR

— CNN (@CNN) February 25, 2022

Famous Hall of Fame boxers – the Klitschko brothers – were also vowing to fight. Vitaly is the mayor of Kyiv. Wladimir enlisted in the reserves in February.

Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko launch a joint video appeal after Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine by Russia…

[📽️ @Vitaliy_Klychko & @Klitschko] pic.twitter.com/uVG4NqtCff

— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) February 24, 2022

Vitaly Skakun, a Marine engineer, reportedly stayed behind to make sure a bridge was blown up to slow the Russian advance, knowing it would cost him his life.

Vitaly Skakun is hailed as a hero after sacrificing his life to blow up the Henichesky Bridge.

The bridge was mined but a Russian column was advancing and there was no time to detonate it remotely.

Skakun radioed his unit and told them he would do it manually, saying goodbye. pic.twitter.com/6gqIFxlc01

— Visegrád 24 🇨🇿🇭🇺🇵🇱🇸🇰 (@visegrad24) February 25, 2022

The citizens also are showing their bravery. The government has distributed arms to whoever is able, so the citizens can themselves fight the Russians. They are also encouraging them to throw Molotov cocktails at the “occupiers.”

This woman gave a Russian occupier sunflower seeds. Why? She curses at him and says because when he is killed in her land and falls to the ground, the seeds will grow, then at least something good will come of them being here. This takes some kind of nerve from this woman.

Ukrainian woman confronts Russian soldiers in Henychesk, Kherson region. Asks them why they came to our land and urges to put sunflower seeds in their pockets [so that flowers would grow when they die on the Ukrainian land] pic.twitter.com/ztTx2qK7kB

— UkraineWorld (@ukraine_world) February 24, 2022

Російські окупаційні війська зайшли в місто Геніческ.⁰Відео спілкування з російським загарбником розмістила на своїй сторінці в соцмережі ФБ місцева мешканка.⁰На відео російський військовий не відповідає на питання,яка мета його перебування в місті. ⁰Відео з’явилось о 13:28. pic.twitter.com/Lp95AJu1Tk

— НепоганаТетяна (@ian_tanya) February 24, 2022

Many in Kyiv have taken to the subway because of concerns about the bombing from Russian planes; the subway acts as a bomb shelter.

As Russia continues to launch air strikes on Kyiv, locals gather at subway stations that are serving as bomb shelters.

Photos: Anadolu Agency pic.twitter.com/334UoZEhrL

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) February 25, 2022

Today #Ukrainians spent the night in the #Kyiv and #Kharkov subway pic.twitter.com/BZqdxOkChp

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 25, 2022

They said they would fight.

Talking to a 25-year old girl in the subway shelter in Kyiv. When asked what her plans were for the coming days, she said immediately "make Molotov cocktails."

— Neil Hauer (@NeilPHauer) February 25, 2022

Molotovs in Kyiv.
Waiting for Russian tanks. pic.twitter.com/PKHPv5k9Ub

— Illia Ponomarenko (@IAPonomarenko) February 25, 2022

They also took the time to pray.

Christians Sing Praise to Jesus Christ While Sheltering Inside a Subway Station in Kiev, Ukraine pic.twitter.com/dNbOAHg33L

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) February 25, 2022

They said they would battle to the end.