The US authorities supplied to evacuate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from Kyiv — however he declined.
“The struggle is right here; I would like ammunition, not a trip,” Zelensky mentioned, The Related Press reported, citing a senior American intelligence official with direct data of the dialog.
Zelensky, 44, as a substitute selected to stay in Ukraine’s capital as Russian forces introduced the struggle to town streets, the place gunfire and explosions had been heard in a single day Friday into Saturday.
The besieged president mentioned his household had been evacuated to security.
“I'm staying within the authorities quarters along with others,” Zelensky mentioned in a video handle early on Friday. “The enemy has designated me as goal primary, and my household as goal quantity two.”
Zelensky addressed his countrymen once more on Friday night time, telling them to brace for an in a single day assault and urging unity and energy.
“The destiny of Ukraine is being determined proper now,” Zelensky mentioned within the video. “This night time might be very tough, and the enemy will use all accessible forces to interrupt the resistance of Ukrainians.”
“We will’t lose the capital,” he added, emphatically.
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Zelensky, a former actor and comic, has lead a substantial protection in opposition to the Russian incursion up to now, slowing down the Russian advance, in line with US protection officers. Nonetheless, there may be concern that would change rapidly.
Russian troops attacked Kyiv from a number of instructions, encircling town of about 2.8 million.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces mentioned “energetic fight” was going down in Kyiv, as Russian forces tried to push towards town heart and confronted heavy resistance from Ukrainian fighters.
Lots of of casualties have been reported following intense combating each inside and across the metropolis, nonetheless the Ukrainian forces appeared to have held onto the capital as of early Saturday, in line with officers.
“We're stopping the horde as finest as we will, the state of affairs in Kyiv is beneath the management of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and our residents,” Safety Council Secretary Danilov mentioned on Saturday morning, in line with the Kyiv Unbiased.
Zelensky additionally posted one other video handle from Kyiv on Saturday morning, through which he vowed to defend his nation.
“There’s loads of pretend info on-line that I name on our military to put down arms, and that there’s evacuation,” he mentioned, in line with a translation by the Kyiv Unbiased.
“I’m right here. We received’t lay down our arms. We are going to defend our state.”
With Publish wires
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