Ukraine President Sends Defiant Message After Night Of Gunfire In Kyiv

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken out following a night of gunfire in Kyiv.

In a video shared online today, February 26, Zelensky reassured people that he has not withdrawn his troops.

The video comes on the third day of war in Ukraine, with fighting occurring in major cities throughout the country, including the capital, Kyiv.

Following a night of gunfire in the capital, Zelensky reassured Ukrainians, 'listen, I am here'.

The president starts the video by saying 'lately, there has been a lot of fake information online that I called on our army to lay down arms and to evacuate'.

Zelensky says this is untrue and vows to fight on, adding 'we will not lay down the weapons'.

He urged Ukrainians to 'defend our state' because 'our weapon is our truth', Sky News reports.

Zelensky then elaborated on this truth, saying that 'this is our land, our country, our children'.

He ends the video by saying he will continue to defend all of that with the Ukrainian people before noting, 'glory to Ukraine'.

Ukrainians sheltering in Kyiv metro (Alamy)

The video comes after a night of fighting in Kyiv.

There have been no casualties reported by Ukraine's foreign minister after a missile strike hit a residential building in the capital, Reuters reports. However, reports this morning suggest up to 200 Ukrainians have been killed as the result of 'Russian aggression' in the country.

According to Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko, 1,115 people were wounded, including 33 children, it is unclear whether this figure is only referring to civilian casualties, as per Sky News.

Fighting has been reported at Hostomel Airfield, in the northwest of the city.

Kyiv officials are said to have put out a statement for people to go to shelters and stay away from windows if at home, BBC News reports.

Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, said the army was 'in control' of the situation in the capital.

He said, 'We are stopping the horde using all means available. The army servicemen and citizens are in control of Kyiv.'

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information 

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