In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
In this image from video provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks from Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Off

Russia is ‘trying to destroy all life’ in Donbas cities, says Zelenskyy


Soraya Ebrahimi
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Ukraine’s partners agree that its struggle against Russia is the protection of common values of all countries in the free world, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a post to accompany his nightly video address.

Mr Zelenskyy said he “was grateful to all those partners who help and provide the necessary weapons and ammunition to overcome the advantage of the Russian army”.

He said 1,474 missile strikes had been carried out by Russian forces since the start of the conflict.

“The invaders are waging a very cruel war against us,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “Indeed, there has not been such a war on the European continent for 77 years.

"Total war, where the enemy tries to destroy as many people and [as much] infrastructure as possible.

“In less than three months, there have already been more than 3,000 air strikes by Russian planes and helicopters."

On the night before the country marked three months since of the start of the war, Mr Zelenskyy said four missiles had killed 87 people in the town of Desna, 55 kilometres north of Kyiv.

The Russians have now concentrated their forces on Donbas cities and “are trying to destroy all life", he said.

  • Service members of pro-Russian troops drive a tank past a destroyed residential building in the town of Popasna in the Luhansk region, Ukraine. Reuters
    Service members of pro-Russian troops drive a tank past a destroyed residential building in the town of Popasna in the Luhansk region, Ukraine. Reuters
  • Smoke and dirt rise from the city of Severodonetsk during shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. AFP
    Smoke and dirt rise from the city of Severodonetsk during shelling in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. AFP
  • Russian soldiers Alexander Alexeevich Ivanov and Alexander Vladimirovich Bobykin, left, attend their trial hearing in Kotelva, northeastern Ukraine. AP Photo
    Russian soldiers Alexander Alexeevich Ivanov and Alexander Vladimirovich Bobykin, left, attend their trial hearing in Kotelva, northeastern Ukraine. AP Photo
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, meets with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, meets with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP
  • A man drives a GAZ-21 Volga car past a damaged building in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, on the 92nd day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP
    A man drives a GAZ-21 Volga car past a damaged building in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, on the 92nd day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP
  • Public transit workers sweep up shrapnel in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Getty Images
    Public transit workers sweep up shrapnel in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Getty Images
  • Pro-Russian troops inspect an AT4 anti-tank launcher outside the town of Svitlodarsk in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. Reuters
    Pro-Russian troops inspect an AT4 anti-tank launcher outside the town of Svitlodarsk in the Donetsk region, Ukraine. Reuters
  • People inspect destroyed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles in Irpin, Ukraine. Getty Images
    People inspect destroyed Russian tanks and armoured vehicles in Irpin, Ukraine. Getty Images
  • A local resident pets a cat next to a destroyed house in Vilkhivka village, near Kharkiv, Ukraine. AFP
    A local resident pets a cat next to a destroyed house in Vilkhivka village, near Kharkiv, Ukraine. AFP
  • The remains of a school in Vilkhivka village, near Kharkiv. AFP
    The remains of a school in Vilkhivka village, near Kharkiv. AFP
  • Widow and daughter of Andriy Vertiev, a Ukrainian serviceman, killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, attend his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery, Lviv, Ukraine. AFP
    Widow and daughter of Andriy Vertiev, a Ukrainian serviceman, killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, attend his funeral at Lychakiv cemetery, Lviv, Ukraine. AFP
  • Russian serviceman Vadim Shishimarin, centre, leaves a court hearing in Kyiv. EPA
    Russian serviceman Vadim Shishimarin, centre, leaves a court hearing in Kyiv. EPA
  • Kateryna Shelikhova, widow of Oleksandr Shelipov, 62, who was shot dead by a Russian soldier. Reuters
    Kateryna Shelikhova, widow of Oleksandr Shelipov, 62, who was shot dead by a Russian soldier. Reuters
  • A child plays against a backdrop of buildings ruined by shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine. AP
    A child plays against a backdrop of buildings ruined by shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine. AP
  • A Ukrainian woman in the basement of a building used as bomb shelter in Soledar, Donetsk region. AP
    A Ukrainian woman in the basement of a building used as bomb shelter in Soledar, Donetsk region. AP
  • Residents live in a subway station used as temporary shelter in Kharkiv. AP
    Residents live in a subway station used as temporary shelter in Kharkiv. AP
  • Men with salvageable material from damaged buildings after Russian bombing in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine. AP
    Men with salvageable material from damaged buildings after Russian bombing in Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine. AP
  • A cuddly toy adorns a destroyed Russian battle tank near damaged homes in Hostomel, Ukraine. Getty Images
    A cuddly toy adorns a destroyed Russian battle tank near damaged homes in Hostomel, Ukraine. Getty Images
  • A mortar explodes next to a road leading to the city of Lysychansk, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. AFP
    A mortar explodes next to a road leading to the city of Lysychansk, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. AFP
  • A Ukrainian army vehicle moves towards the front line at a checkpoint near Lysychansk. AFP
    A Ukrainian army vehicle moves towards the front line at a checkpoint near Lysychansk. AFP
  • A boy looks at flags honouring soldiers killed while fighting Russian troops, in Kyiv city centre. AP
    A boy looks at flags honouring soldiers killed while fighting Russian troops, in Kyiv city centre. AP
  • A mannequin with a fake gun is placed as bait on a roadside in the Nord Saltivka district of Kharkiv. EPA
    A mannequin with a fake gun is placed as bait on a roadside in the Nord Saltivka district of Kharkiv. EPA
  • A man looks at a destroyed Russian tank placed as a symbol of war, in central Kyiv. AP
    A man looks at a destroyed Russian tank placed as a symbol of war, in central Kyiv. AP
  • Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a screen at the opening ceremony for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Reuters
    Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a screen at the opening ceremony for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Reuters
  • Smoke billows from an oil refinery after an attack outside the city of Lysychansk, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. AFP
    Smoke billows from an oil refinery after an attack outside the city of Lysychansk, in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas. AFP
  • A woman walks by a destroyed apartment building in Bakhmut, Donbas region. AFP
    A woman walks by a destroyed apartment building in Bakhmut, Donbas region. AFP
  • An elderly woman stands inside her heavily damaged house after it was hit by a missile in Bakhmut. AFP
    An elderly woman stands inside her heavily damaged house after it was hit by a missile in Bakhmut. AFP
  • A mother with her daughter sit inside a bus as they leave Bakhmut. AFP
    A mother with her daughter sit inside a bus as they leave Bakhmut. AFP
  • A Ukrainian soldier prepares coffee as he takes a break near an artillery position in the breakaway enclave of Donetsk, in the Donbas region. Reuters
    A Ukrainian soldier prepares coffee as he takes a break near an artillery position in the breakaway enclave of Donetsk, in the Donbas region. Reuters
  • A Ukrainian soldier exercises near Donetsk. Reuters
    A Ukrainian soldier exercises near Donetsk. Reuters
  • A woman displaced by incessant Russian shelling leaves a metro station where people had been living underground for months in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Getty
    A woman displaced by incessant Russian shelling leaves a metro station where people had been living underground for months in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Getty
  • A heavily damaged home spa near Ruski Tyshky village in Ukraine. Getty
    A heavily damaged home spa near Ruski Tyshky village in Ukraine. Getty
  • The wreckage of a Ukrainian military helicopter is transported in Kharkiv. Getty
    The wreckage of a Ukrainian military helicopter is transported in Kharkiv. Getty
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv. EPA
    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Polish President Andrzej Duda in Kyiv. EPA
  • Two Ukrainian national guard soldiers pay their respects at a cemetery in Kharkiv. AP
    Two Ukrainian national guard soldiers pay their respects at a cemetery in Kharkiv. AP
  • A man pushes a wheelbarrow past a heavily damaged apartment building near Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol. Reuters
    A man pushes a wheelbarrow past a heavily damaged apartment building near Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol. Reuters
  • The burnt out shells of cars in a residential area near Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol. Reuters
    The burnt out shells of cars in a residential area near Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol. Reuters
  • Pro-Russian troops drive a tank in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Reuters
    Pro-Russian troops drive a tank in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Reuters
  • A Russian soldier takes a break during an operation to demine the territory of Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Reuters
    A Russian soldier takes a break during an operation to demine the territory of Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol. Reuters
  • Relatives and friends attend the funeral of a Ukrainian soldier killed in action, in the Odessa region city of Rozdilna. EPA
    Relatives and friends attend the funeral of a Ukrainian soldier killed in action, in the Odessa region city of Rozdilna. EPA
  • Ukrainians wearing traditional clothing listen to their national anthem as they take part in the celebration of 'Vyshyvanka Day', an annual celebration of Ukrainian folk traditions, in Athens. AFP
    Ukrainians wearing traditional clothing listen to their national anthem as they take part in the celebration of 'Vyshyvanka Day', an annual celebration of Ukrainian folk traditions, in Athens. AFP

“The coming weeks of the war will be difficult and we must be aware of that,” Mr Zelenskyy said. “But we have no alternative but to fight. Fight and win.”

He said he was continuing to increase pressure on Russia and the “absolute priority” for Ukraine remained in the supply of weapons and ammunition from partners.

Updated: May 24, 2022, 5:37 AM