Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, in his nightly address, warned of Russia’s plans to “capture other countries”, saying that it proves that the invasion of Ukraine was just intended as a start.
The president’s comments were in response to a statement by a Russian general, who said that Moscow aimed to create a land corridor between Donbas and Crimea. With Mariupol poised to fall, the general explained how Russian control of the south would give them access to Transnistria, a separatist Moldova statelet.
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A contingent of Russian troops has been stationed there since the 1990s, as per Russian news agency TASS. Zelensky responded to this, saying, “Allegedly there, in Moldova, the rights of Russian speakers are violated. Although, to be honest, the territory in which Russia should take care of the rights of Russian speakers is Russia itself — where there is no freedom of speech, no freedom of choice. Where there is simply no right to dissent. Where poverty thrives and where human life is worthless”.
His comments on Russia’s censorship laws come after a draconian rule was passed, allowing imprisonment for those spreading what Kremlin deems to be “fake news” about Moscow’s troops.
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The Ukrainian president also took the opportunity to thank Ukraine’s allies for supplying weapons, saying “I am grateful to all our partners who finally heard us, who provide us with exactly what we asked for. Because we know for sure that with these weapons, we will be able to save the lives of thousands of people. And we will be able to show the occupiers that the day when they will be forced to leave Ukraine is approaching.”
Several countries have sent military aid to Ukraine, but the war-torn nation’s calls for jets and complex weaponry have been turned down. Recently, Ukraine began a crowdfunding website to procure fighter jets and hold off the Russian invasion.
