Published 25th Feb, 2022

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian President, said his country has been left alone to battle Russia.

Zelensky said this on Thursday, after a Russian large-scale invasion, which slew 130 Ukrainians on the first day.

In a video address to the nation at the end of the first day of the Russian attack, Zelenskyy said, “We have been left alone to defend our state.”

“Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.”

Since the attack began early Thursday morning, 137 Ukrainians, both military and civilian, have been killed, and 316 have been injured, according to Zelenskyy.

“Sadly, today we lost 137 heroes, our citizens. Ten of them were officers. 316 people have been wounded. Defending the Zmiinyi Island, all our border guards died a heroic death. But they have not surrendered. They will all be awarded posthumously the title of the Hero of Ukraine. Let those who gave their lives for Ukraine be remembered forever,” Zelenskyy said.

He also said Russian “sabotage groups” had invaded Kyiv, and asked people to be careful and keep curfews.

The president stated that despite being Russia’s first target, he remained in Ukraine with his family.

“I remain in the capital. My family is also in Ukraine, and my children are in Ukraine. My family are not traitors; they are citizens of Ukraine. Where exactly they are, I have no right to say. According to the information we have, the enemy has marked me as target No. 1, my family as target No. 2,” he said.

“They want to destroy Ukraine politically by taking down the head of state.”

Earlier, the Ukrainian President said that a “new iron curtain” had been erected between Russia and the rest of the globe, similar to the Cold War.

“What do we hear today? It’s not just rocket explosions, combat and the roar of aircraft. This is the sound of a new iron curtain lowering and closing Russia off from the civilised world,” said Zelensky.

On Thursday, Russia began an all-out land, air, and sea invasion of Ukraine.

Share on Social Media