Russia has lost its own future and any cultural ties to the free world. They all burned down.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this in his address.
The President dedicated his address to four cities: Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sievierodonetsk and Kryvyi Rih. And through them - to our whole state, to all our cities and communities.
“Today I visited Kharkiv. Both the city itself and the frontline positions of our military in the region. Kharkiv suffered terrible blows from the occupiers. Black, burnt-out, half-ruined apartment buildings face east and north with their windows, where russian artillery was firing. From where russian combat aircraft arrived. They face russia. And in them now, like in a mirror, the russian state can see itself. See how much it lost during these 95 days of full-scale war against Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.
He held a meeting with the leadership of the region, the city, and said he was satisfied with their work, as well as the work of the Army and Police, in contrast to the local leadership of the SSU. The President fired the head of the Security Service of the region for "not working to defend the city from the first days of the full-scale war, but thinking only of himself personally." The motives for such actions of the former head of the SSU of Kharkiv region are being clarified by law enforcement officers.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that before the trip he had signed a decree awarding 222 participants of combat actions with state awards, and had the opportunity to reward some of them during his stay in Kharkiv.
The President and local authorities also discussed the post-war reconstruction of Kharkiv and the Kharkiv region.
“Returning from the east to Kyiv at this time leaves a rather ambiguous impression. After Saltivka's silence, there is Khreshchatyk, full of people and smiles. After the roar of artillery on the frontline - the relaxation of Kyiv residents, who walked the city today. On the City Day, the Day of Kyiv, which is celebrated by thousands of people every year,” Zelenskyy stressed.
He noted that it is for such happiness to live, live your normal life and just quietly walk the streets of your own city, this war is going on now.
The President of Ukraine wished the people of Kyiv to keep their peace of life, their city, and remember what it cost to defend the capital, how many lives were given for the capital.
“And I am very much looking forward to the day when I will be able to say similar words to another of our cities. A city that should celebrate its Day today in the same way as Kyiv. But ... Russia came too close to it. It gathered too many forces in our Donbass. I was too prepared for the offensive there. I consider it very symbolic that the russian military began its attempt to capture Sievierodonetsk by entering a hotel called “Myr”. Peace is really the first target for russia," Zelenskyy added.
He clarified that as a result of the russian strikes in Sievierodonetsk, the entire critical infrastructure of the city has been destroyed, 90% of houses are damaged. More than two-thirds of the city's housing stock has been completely destroyed. There is no mobile connection.
According to the President, capturing Sievierodonetsk is a fundamental task for the occupying contingent, they don’t care how many lives they will have to pay for this attempt to raise the russian flag at 32 Druzhby Narodiv Boulevard, where the Sievierodonetsk administration is located.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also congratulated his native Kryvyi Rih, which is celebrating its 247th birthday today. It would celebrate, but the time is not right, the conditions are not appropriate, and the enemy is still on our land. The time to celebrate will be after our victory. And it will come.
"And today I want to wish just that – to my hometown, and to all cities and communities of our great country. A shorter time to victory.
We all must work for this, everyone, without exception," said the President of Ukraine.
A working meeting chaired by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was held on the situation in the Kharkiv region and the city of Kharkiv.