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Topics: Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia, World News
Hannah Smith
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russian occupying forces are 'attacking everything' in their quest to capture his country's major cities, claiming their actions show 'signs of genocide'.
In the latest of his regular video addresses, Zelensky told the Ukrainian people and the world that the Russian military was 'attacking civilian areas' with no military infrastructure, in spite of Russia's claims that it did not want to harm civilians.
'The past night in Ukraine was brutal, again shooting, again bombardments of residential areas, civilian infrastructure,' Zelensky said in the address. He went on to say that Russia was waging a campaign of 'terror' on the Ukrainian people, saying, 'They are going to bomb our Ukrainian cities even more, they are going to kill our children even more subtly. This is the evil that has come to our land and must be destroyed.'
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In his speech Zelensky also reiterated his call for Russia to have its veto power removed by the United Nations Security Council, Reuters reports, saying, 'Russia's criminal actions against Ukraine bear signs of genocide.'
As the war in Ukraine enters its fourth day Russia has continued its bombardment of major cities including the capital, Kyiv, and second largest city, Kharkiv, the latter of which has reportedly seen Russian infantry enter the city this morning, February 27.
There have been multiple reports of Russia attacking residential buildings, with footage emerging yesterday of the moment one high-rise apartment block in Kyiv was struck by a missile. Similar attacks have been reported in other areas of Kyiv and around the country, while this morning Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson claimed the Air Force had shot down a 'cruise missile' launched at Kyiv
Residents in Kyiv are currently under a mandatory curfew set to last until 8.00am Monday, February 28, amid fears that Russia may escalate its bombardment of the city as it continues its attempt to take control of the capital.
Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba yesterday said hospitals and schools had also been targeted by Russian missiles and shelling, with local reports claiming a number of children were among those seriously injured after a nursery and orphanage was hit in the town of Okhtyrka.
Kuleba described the actions of the Russian military as 'war crimes', and said a dossier of violations was being compiled to be sent to the Hague, per LBC.
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