Explosions seen and heard in Kyiv as Ukrainians battle to hold back advancing Russian troops
“We are here. We are in Kyiv. We are defending Ukraine.”
That was the title of a video posted on Facebook Friday night by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as he vowed to defend his country while standing on a Kyiv street with other leaders of his administration.
“Good evening everyone! Leader of the faction is here. Head of the president’s administration is here. Prime Minister (Denys) Shmyhal is here. (Adviser to the head of the President’s Office Mykhailo) Podoliak is here. The President is here,” said Zelensky, pointing to the various men around him as he spoke, ending with himself.
“We are all here. Our military are here. Citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state and it will remain so. Glory to our defenders! Glory to our women defenders! Glory to Ukraine!”
The rest of the group chimed in: “Glory to heroes!”
Zelensky’s post, which has since gone viral online has been widely shared across different social media platforms.
Also on Friday night, Zelensky released a formal national address, confirming that Russian forces were close to the capital, advancing from the north and the east. He added that he was still communicating with world leaders including US President Joe Biden.
“Our main goal is to finish this slaughter,” Zelensky said in the address. “Ukrainians resist the Russian aggression heroically.”
Watch Zelensky’s video:
- Ukraine President says 137 soldiers have been killed since Russian invasion began
- Ukraine President makes dramatic appeal to Russian citizens
- Biden calls Russia’s actions beginning of an invasion
- Putin orders troops into pro-Russian regions of eastern Ukraine
- Satellite imagery shows Russian ground forces dispersing to positions close to Ukraine border
- Biden says he’s convinced Putin has decided to attack Ukraine but insists diplomacy not off the table
