Selenskyj: So far 52 dead children
President’s wife Selenska accuses Russia of “mass murder”.
3/9/2022 4:27 am
In an open letter, Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, declares that Ukraine wants peace but will never capitulate. Russia’s attack was “mass murder of peaceful people”. Her husband speaks of “deliberate, systematic torture”.
The wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated calls for the establishment of a no-fly zone over the country. “Close heaven, and on earth we will make it ourselves,” wrote Olena Zelenska in an open letter published by the Presidential Office in Kyiv.
Ukraine wants peace. “But Ukraine will defend itself and will never surrender.” The Russian invasion was a “mass murder of peaceful people”. “Eight-year-old Alice… died on the streets of Ochtyrka while her grandfather tried to protect her,” she wrote. “Polina from Kyiv died under the shelling together with her parents”. “14-year-old Arseny was hit in the head by debris and might not be rescued because an ambulance might not get to him in time because of the intense fire.” She reiterated: “When Russia says it is ‘not waging war on civilians,’ I first call out the names of these murdered children.”
The war in Ukraine is not a war “somewhere there”. “This is a war in Europe and on the borders with the EU,” stressed Olena Selenska. If Russian President Vladimir Putin is not stopped, there will be no safe place. “I know it sounds like a horrible dream. But this is our new reality. We live in it. And we don’t know how long it will last. But we will win for sure.”
Hours following his speech to the UK Parliament, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has released a new video of a speech welcoming the news that the US and UK will impose an import ban on Russian oil. He said: “Another gas station can be found.” Zelenskyy added that there will be a “new Marshall Plan for Ukraine”.
“The Monsters Are Not Ready”
The President then reported on the destruction of a dormitory in the Shtomyr region by a Russian attack and said that a humanitarian corridor was established from Sumy to Poltava. “Hundreds of people have been rescued and humanitarian aid has been provided. But this is only a fraction of what still needs to be done and what the trapped Ukrainians expect.”
Zelenskyi repeatedly blamed Russia for the bombing of humanitarian corridors. “Our cargo is ready, our transport is ready, but the monsters are not ready. They are shooting at the evacuation routes, they are blocking the delivery of essential goods and medicines.” He spoke of “deliberate, systematic torture organized by their state.” Zelenskyy continued that so far 52 children have been killed in just 13 days of war.
Zelenskyy highlighted the courage of Russians taking to the streets for Ukraine. “They fight for us and for themselves every day.” The Russian civil rights organization Owd-Info counted more than 13,400 arrests at anti-war demonstrations in Russia since the beginning of the war on February 24. “The war must end,” said Zelenskyj. “We have to sit down at the negotiating table.”
