In Kyiv the alerts resumed as in the first days of the conflict. Since the resumption of Russian attacks, sirens sound several times a day to call the inhabitants to shelter. “Security remains a key issue in all Ukrainian cities,” the capital’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, told BFMTV on Thursday.
This Thursday morning, a drone attack targeted several infrastructures in Kyiv. “Our military shot down almost all the drones, but despite this, the drones target objects, sites and infrastructure to cause damage,” the mayor said.
Furthermore, although Russian officials say they only want to attack the Ukrainian armed forces, they also target civilians, continues Vitali Klitschko.
“What Russian propaganda tells us is a lie. Those shots kill civilians, women, children, the elderly. (…) For the aggressor, anyone who does not think like him is a target. Those people can be killed and are being killed.”
“We will never be bullied”
Recalling the images taken of the attacks in Boutcha or Irpin a few weeks ago, the mayor of Kyiv does not hesitate to describe the conflict as “genocide”. “Putin needs the Ukraine, not the Ukrainians. He needs the territories, that’s all.”
While several key infrastructures have been attacked in recent days, the elected representative sees the Russian strategy as a desperate attempt to force residents, deprived of heat, water or electricity, to leave their country. However, these multiple attacks further catalyze the resistance and resilience of Ukrainians.
“Russians rely on panic. They would like to sow panic and depression. But instead people get angry. And these emotions strengthen their will to defend their home, their city, their country,” says Vitali Klitschko.
“We will never be intimidated. No one can force us to surrender. We are willing to give our lives for this,” she continues.
“We see our future in the European family”
Thanking France for sending weapons since the beginning of the conflict, the mayor of Kyiv also says that the Ukrainian people are not only fighting to defend themselves, but also to protect other European countries from Russian forces.
“We see our future in the European family. We are defending our country but also all Europeans because, if we let them, the Russians would advance as far as possible. They are challenging us all,” he stressed Thursday, calling on Westerners to Don’t give up your efforts.
While France tries to restore contact between the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to promote dialogue and negotiations, Volodymyr Zelensky has so far always shown his resistance to this idea. For the mayor of Kyiv, the war “will end at the negotiating table”, but only when the Russian forces have left Ukraine.
“Today, when the Russians agree to compromise, they offer to remove part of Ukraine. We can talk about everything, but only when the last Russian soldier leaves Ukrainian soil. This is our condition. We are not ready to accept Russia’s decision.” annexation of a large part of the Ukrainian territory”.
Source: BFM TV
