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The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, sent a message to his country after the Russian invasion on Thursday. The president explained that 137 Ukrainians were reported killed during the first day of the Russian attack on their territory.
“According to preliminary data, unfortunately, we have lost 137 of our heroes today – our citizens. 10 of them are officers. 316 are wounded,” said the president in the speech, reported by the EFE news agency.
Zelensky regretted that none of his allies had given a clear answer on Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO. “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,” he expressed.
Threats against the president of Ukraine and his family
Zelensky assured that it is false that Russia only attacks military bases and pointed out that during the shelling civilians are also affected. “The enemy strikes not only at military facilities, as it claims, but also at civilians. They kill people and turn peaceful cities into military targets. This is vile and will never be forgiven,” he stressed.
The president also denied that he had left Kyiv. “I will stay in the capital, my family is also in Ukraine,” he stressed.
He further added: “According to our information, the enemy marked me as the number one target. My family is the number two target. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the Head of State.”
He called on citizens to comply with the curfew and stressed that he will keep performing his duties as the Head of State. “I am asking Kyivites very much: be careful, follow the rules of curfew. I remain in the government quarter together with all those who are necessary for the work of the central government,” he stated.
He added: “We are not afraid to talk to Russia. We are not afraid to say everything about security guarantees for our state. We are not afraid to talk about neutral status. We are not in NATO now. But the main thing – what security guarantees will we have? And what specific countries will give them?” he wondered.
