Russia is preparing to bomb Odessa. This act will be considered a war crime. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this information on March 6th.
"They are preparing to bomb Odessa. Odessa! Russians have always visited Odessa. They have always felt welcome in Odessa. They felt sincerity. What now? Bombing Odessa? Artillery against Odessa? Missiles against Odessa? This act is a war crime. This act will be a historical crime," the President stated.
Zelenskyy also mentioned that Russian prisoners of war are testifying to Ukrainian military defense officers. There are hundreds and hundreds of them.
"There are pilots among those Russian prisoners. They bombed our cities, bombed our civilians. We heard their testimony. We saw the documents. Maps. Plans which they didn't create yesterday. This war was not an improvisation. They thoroughly prepared this invasion in such a brutal, cynical way. They were ready to break any rules in this war. Therefore Kharkiv. Therefore Chernihiv. Therefore Sumy. Therefore Mariupol. And many, many other Ukrainian hero cities saw pure evil. They planned this atrocity. But it will not kill our humanity. Despite all this, we treat prisoners within the rules of the Geneva Convention. We do not launch our missiles to hit civilian targets in Russia or Belarus. They are the ones who send their missiles to our territory every day. They send columns of military equipment. Aviation is flying against peaceful people, against peaceful cities," the President says.
He called on Russians to choose between life and slavery.
"Today. Tomorrow. In the coming week. You can still defeat evil without irreparable losses. They threaten you with dismissal or a paddy wagon, not the Gulag, just for expressing your opinion. Material losses, not execution. Do not miss this opportunity. Social networks, friends, acquaintances and others, colleagues and relatives. They need to hear you out. We, Ukrainians, want peace," Zelenskyy said.
Zelensky emphasized that for all Russians, it is a battle not only for peace in Ukraine but also for their country. For all the best that was there before. For the freedom they saw. For the well-being that they felt.
"If you remain silent now, then only your poverty will speak for you. And only repression will take place. Do not be silent!" the Ukrainian President exclaimed.