Ukraine “will act to defend its people” in the regions occupied by Moscow, which voted Tuesday in “referendums” denounced by Kyiv in favor of its annexation to Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in the evening.
“We will act to protect our people: both in the Kherson region, in the Zaporizhia region, in the Donbass (and also) in the currently occupied areas of the Kharkiv region and in Crimea,” Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement. on Telegram, his first reaction after the announcement of the results by the pro-Russian authorities.
“No criminal action by Russia will change anything for Ukraine,” the Ukrainian president said.
Victory claimed in four regions
His comments come after four Ukrainian regions – Kherson, Zaporizhia, Lugansk and Donetsk – announced Tuesday night that the “yes” had largely won in “referendums” on Russia’s annexation organized by Moscow. These “referendums” are widely condemned by Kyiv and its Western supporters.
“It is clear and understandable” that Kyiv cannot discuss in these conditions, the Ukrainian president said at night, reiterating his message to the UN a few minutes earlier.
“Russia’s recognition of ‘pseudo-referendums’ as ‘normal’, the implementation of the (same) scenario as in Crimea and yet another attempt to annex part of Ukrainian territory means that we do not have to argue with the current Russian president”, he said in a video recorded and broadcast during a meeting of the Security Council of the international organization.
Ukrainians “advance and liberate our lands”
Volodymyr Zelensky has also once again called on Westerners for more military “support” for his army, which is still trying to advance in the east and south of the country, after a successful counter-offensive in early September in the Kharkiv region. ).
According to him, the Ukrainians “advance and liberate our lands” gradually, despite the strong resistance of the Moscow troops.
Source: BFM TV
