Ukraine: Zelenskyy Delivers Defiant Speech Calling Russian Soldiers 'Confused Children Who Have Been Used'

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Russian soldiers 'confused children' in his latest address.

In a video posted early this morning, March 3, Zelenskyy told Russian forces to leave Ukraine, claiming that nearly 9,000 Russian soldiers had been killed since Vladimir Putin's invasion last week.

In his video address, Zelenskyy also warned that wherever Russian forces go in Ukraine 'they will be destroyed'.

Zelenskyy proceeded to explain that the Russian troops will have no 'calm', 'food' or a 'quiet' moment while on Ukrainian soil, as per Sky News.

'The occupiers will receive only one thing from Ukrainians: resistance. Fierce resistance. Such resistance that they will forever remember that we don't give up what is ours, that they will remember what a patriotic war is'.

The president noted the 'plans' against his country were full of 'hatred' and urged soldiers to go home.

'Go home. With your whole army. Tell your officers that you want to live, that you don't want to die but to live'.

Zelenskyy's remarks come as Russian troops entered the centre of Kherson, with conflicting reports as to whether the city has been captured by Russian troops.

Both the capital of Kyiv and Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv have avoided falling to Russian control, as Ukrainians put up a staunch resistance.

The UK ministry of defence confirmed this resistance, noting that 'Despite heavy Russian shelling, the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol remain in Ukrainian hands'.

Ukrainian resistance to Putin's invasion has been praised across the world. However, Zelenskyy was quick to brush off any personal praise during an interview with CNN: 'I'm not iconic, I think Ukraine is iconic'.

'Ukraine is the heart of Europe, and now I think Europe sees Ukraine is something special for this world'.

According to reports from UN officials, since the war started over one million refugees have fled Ukraine.

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

Topics: Russia, Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, World News

Shola Lee

Shola Lee began her journalism career while studying for her undergraduate degree at Queen Mary, University of London and Columbia University in New York. She has written for the Columbia Spectator, QM Global Bloggers, CUB Magazine, UniDays, and Warner Brothers' Wizarding World Digital. Recently, Shola took part in the 2021 BAFTA Crew and BBC New Creatives programme before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news, trending stories, and features.