Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky issues late night warning as Russian forces close in on capital Kyiv

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said that the night will be very difficult as Russia will try to ‘use all available forces to break the resistance of Ukrainians’. The warning was issued in a late-night video message as Russian forces closed in on capital Kyiv from the north and the east. 

Zelensky confirmed that hundreds of Russian soldiers were killed since Moscow launched a full-scale attack on Thursday.  

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“Our main goal is to finish this slaughter. The enemy losses are very grave — today there were hundreds of killed soldiers who crossed our border and came on our land,” he said. 

However, he said, Ukraine had also suffered losses. On Thursday, after the first day of fighting, the President had confirmed the deaths of at least 137 Ukrainian soldiers. 

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“Ukrainians resist the Russian aggression heroically. This aggression cannot be justified, so the occupiers have to come up with more absurd accusations to say at least something,” Zelensky added. 

Kyiv’s mayor also issued a statement on Telegram, describing the situation as threatening for the capital city. Zelensky said that ‘the fate of Ukraine is being decided right now’. 

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“This night will be very difficult, and the enemy will use all available forces to break the resistance of Ukrainians,” Zelensky said. 

He further accused Russia of attacking kindergartens and civilian infrastructure.