“We are left alone to defend our country,” Zelensky said in a video address posted to the Ukrainian presidency. I don’t see anyone.”
The Ukrainian president stressed that he will remain in the capital. “I will stay in the capital. My family is also in Ukraine. According to the information we have, the enemy has identified me as Target No. 1. My family is Target No. 2,” he said.
He announced that “137 heroes of our compatriots” were killed in the Russian invasion, and 316 others were wounded in battle.
“On our island of Zmini, all our border guards died like heroes, defending themselves to the end. But they did not give up,” he added.
He also said that Russian forces infiltrated Kiev a day after the start of the Russian invasion of his country, adding, “We received information about the entry of enemy sabotage groups into Kiev,” calling on the population to be vigilant and to abide by the curfew.
The Ukrainian president announced a general military mobilization to confront the Russian invasion, noting that this measure relates to those subject to “military conscription and reserve soldiers” and will be applied within 90 days in all Ukrainian regions.
Zelensky also ordered the General Staff to determine how many soldiers would be called up and in what order.