The Russian army is targeting civilian areas, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky denouncedpraising the “heroism” of his fellow citizens in the face of the Russian invasion and assuring that his troops were doing “everything possible” to defend the country.
“They said that civilians were not targeted, but it is another of their lies (…) Tonight, they began to bomb civilian neighborhoods. This reminds us of (the Nazi offensive of) 1941,” the president said in a video broadcast on social networks.(Due to the public interest that the events between Russia and Ukraine arouse, all our coverage of that invasion and related actions will have free access for all readers of EL TIEMPO)
Two strong explosions resounded early Friday in the center of Kiev, according to an AFP journalist.
The Ukrainian army reported “missile firing” at the capital and the destruction of two of them by defense systems.
The mayor of Kiev, Vitali Klichkó, indicated that three people were injured, one of them critically, in a residential neighborhood southeast of the capital.
(Also read: Ukrainian President regrets that his country was left ‘alone’ against Russia)
Zelenski affirmed that the defenders of the country have frustrated the operational plans of the Russian invasion on the first day and affirmed that “the Ukrainians have shown heroism”.
“Our boys and girls, all the defenders of Ukraine did not allow the enemy to carry out the operational plan of the invasion on the first day“said the head of state, who stressed that in most directions the advance of Russian troops has been stopped and fighting is taking place.
“The Russians thought our forces were tired, but we are not tired,” he said.
“All forces are doing their best” to defend Ukraine, he said.
Zelensky also indicated that Moscow will have to talk to his country at some point if it wants to end the fighting.
(You may be interested in: Video: Russia attacks Kiev with ballistic missiles)
“Russia will have to talk to us sooner or later. How we can end the fighting and stop the invasion. The sooner this conversation takes place, the smaller the losses, even for Russia“, assured the president.
We defend our State alone. The most powerful forces in the world watch from afar
And addressing the Russians who protested against the war on Thursday, hundreds of them arrested, he said: “We see you, that means you have heard us and believed us. Fight for us, fight against the war.”
Lastly, the Ukrainian president launched a new criticism of the international powers, assuring that your country is fighting alone.
“We defend our state alone. The most powerful forces in the world watch from afar. (…) Have yesterday’s sanctions persuaded Russia? We feel in our skies and on our land that this is insufficient,” he added.
The Russian invasion began early Thursday morning, following Vladimir Putin’s Monday recognition of the independence of rebel breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine.
AFP and EFE
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