Tag: Press Release

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 27 March 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the defenders of Mariupol had a choice to leave the city and save their lives, but they did not want to leave their wounded brothers-in-arms and the bodies of the dead there. The Head of State spoke about this in an interview for Russian media from “Zygar” YouTube channel, “Rain” TV channel, “Meduza” portal, “Kommersant” and “Novaya Gazeta”.

“There are our troops inside (the city of Mariupol – ed.). Where Russian troops can enter, they have entered. They did not enter certain parts of the city. Because there are our men who refused to leave despite their appeals,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he regularly communicates with the defenders of Mariupol and members of their families.

“Every two days I get in touch for sure… I also told them that I understand everything, we will definitely come back, but if you feel that you need to leave and you feel that it is right and that you can survive, do it. I understand what it looks like for the military, but do it. I gave them that choice. And they said: we can’t, the wounded are here, we will not leave the wounded. Moreover, they said they would not leave the dead,” the President said.

The Head of State also said that there was an attempt to agree with the Russian side on the removal of the bodies of killed soldiers and civilians lying in the open air, but such removal was not allowed.

“The reality is that the city is blocked by the Russian military, all entrances and exits from Mariupol are blocked, the port is mined. The humanitarian catastrophe in the city is obvious. Because food, medicine, and water can’t be delivered. The Russian troops are shelling humanitarian convoys and killing drivers,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to him, due to the shelling, many humanitarian convoys returned without reaching Mariupol.

The President also confirmed that in the framework of the agreements, people were leaving the city using civilian transport, but Russia also organized the forcible removal of Mariupol residents to the occupied territories.

“According to our data, more than 2,000 children were deported. Which means they were abducted. Because we do not know the exact locations of all these children. There were children with and without parents. It’s a catastrophe, it’s horrible,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

According to him, these people are being taken by the Russian side to replenish the “exchange fund”.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 27 March 2022.

The Ukrainian side is ready to exchange Russian prisoners of war for Ukrainian prisoners of war before the end of hostilities. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an interview for Russian media from “Zygar” YouTube channel, “Rain” TV channel, “Meduza” portal, “Kommersant” and “Novaya Gazeta”.

“Lists are being compiled. Our military, I know, made lists. There are lists of all those who are in captivity. I don’t know if everyone is interested in them. Politicians, I think, are not very interested in them. I’m just not sure that the Russian side needs these lists,” the Head of State said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that he stood for exchanging prisoners of war without waiting for the end of the war.

“It is not necessary to act according to some generally accepted canons: like let’s wait until the end of the war, or let’s capture more… I do not understand that. I believe that there is an agreement to exchange everyone for everyone, we have this number – let’s exchange for this number. Let’s not measure: 10 for 10, 11 for 11,” the President said.

He also noted that Ukraine does not want to leave the corpses of Russian soldiers on its territory, but wants to hand them over to the relatives of the dead.

“They (the Russian side – ed.) first refused, then offered us some bags… It all looks like… You know, even when a dog or a cat dies, people don’t do so. These are garbage bags. I don’t understand what people think, what the parents of these children think,” the President said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that for him, as the President of a warring country, such an attitude is unacceptable even towards soldiers of an enemy state.

“It’s not cattle. And why is it dreadful? Because if this is the attitude towards their own people, then what is the attitude towards everyone else? And we are definitely not “friends” for the Russian government,” he concluded.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 March 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda held a video conference. The President of Ukraine thanked his Polish counterpart for sheltering Ukrainian refugees.

Andrzej Duda said that as of now, Poland has sheltered 2.3 million Ukrainians. According to him, the country provides them with everything they need.

The presidents and representatives of their offices discussed the functioning of Ukraine’s energy system in Europe’s single energy network. The energy ministers of the two countries were instructed to continue consultations after the talks.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated the need to prevent shelling of Ukrainian cities from the air. The President of Ukraine expressed disappointment that Soviet-made aircraft available in Eastern European countries, in particular Poland, have not yet been handed over to our state. Although both these countries and the United States have publicly stated their readiness to make such a decision.

“The price of delay with planes is thousands of lives of Ukrainians, which we are losing from missile and air strikes on peaceful Ukrainian cities,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

According to him, aircraft, tanks and long-range air defense systems would allow Ukraine to really defend freedom throughout our territory and drastically change the course of hostilities.

“If the partners do not help Ukraine with planes and tanks, and they have such opportunities, there is a high risk that Russian troops will pose not only a missile threat to the territory of our neighbors – friendly Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and the Baltic States, but also direct general military threat. On their borders, near their cities. And they will go further,” the Ukrainian Head of State said.

As the conversation between the Presidents was coming to an end, Lviv was hit by Russian missiles. Lviv is located 50 kilometers from the Polish border.

After the conversation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy contacted the defenders of Mariupol who also said that the city was under devastating airstrikes. Nevertheless, the military assured that they are determined to defend Mariupol.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 March 2022.

One of the key elements of the negotiations on ending the aggressive war launched by the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine is the creation of a system of clear and reliable security guarantees for our state. This was stated by Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office Mykhailo Podolyak in an interview for the German media Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.

“Ukraine insists on a system of security guarantees, which will include countries that are ready to provide these guarantees, including in the military sense. Many other things depend on it,” he stressed.

According to Mykhailo Podolyak, such a system of guarantees is impossible without the participation of the United States of America in the first place.

The Advisor to the Head of the President’s Office noted that there is some progress in the negotiations with the Russian side in the working subgroups, but in general the progress is not yet what the Ukrainian side would like it to be.

He also stressed that Ukraine would not exchange situational success for global security instruments.

“The Russian side likes to organize a “leak” of some information, some versions of the talks in the media, hoping that in our country, where there is an open discussion, there will be speculation, emotions and conflicts,” said Mykhailo Podolyak.

According to him, the issue of territorial integrity is extremely important for our state. Therefore, such a difficult issue as the future of the temporarily occupied Crimea and ORDLO should be decided only by the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia.

The Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President believes that the peace talks will begin to yield fruit when Russia realizes that it will suffer more losses from the continuation of this war than Ukraine.

“For this to happen, we need effective operation of our army. And this requires that our partners adequately help us. If you do not want to make a no-fly zone, give us air defense systems so that we can close the skies ourselves, so that our peaceful cities are not bombed. Second, give us weapons to unblock cities like Mariupol. Third, sanctions such as the oil embargo, maximum restrictions on financial transactions, etc. are needed,” Mykhailo Podolyak explained.

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 26 March 2022.

On the Day of the National Guard of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the NGU servicemen who showed personal courage and dedication in repelling the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against our state.

“I want to thank everyone for your service. For your work, for protecting our territorial integrity, sovereignty, all our families,” he said.

“Please take care of yourself, take care of your families, take care of your children’s health. All this is important and will be needed for us, for our future, which we are building and will build together with you,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy added, presenting the awards.

In particular, the award was received by:

NGU soldier Andriy Yesaultsev who showed courage during the evacuation of personnel from Antonov Airport.

Major Oleksandr Solonko who defended Kyiv Airport and, despite heavy rocket fire from the enemy, kept the defense and destroyed an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group. During the battle, Oleksandr Solonko captured five saboteurs.

Soldier Roman Bereza who showed courage during the fire contact with the paratroopers of the aggressor who fired at the military unit.

Senior Lieutenant of the medical service Maryna Riazantseva who came under mortar fire from the occupiers near the village of Horenka, as a result of which a battle broke out with an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group. As a result of the projectile explosion, Maryna Riazantseva was shell shocked, but despite the pain continued to provide medical care to the wounded soldiers and evacuate them during the enemy shelling.

Senior Sergeant Makym Tkach who saved the battle flag during the withdrawal of personnel from the location of the military unit.

In addition, the Head of State conferred the military rank of Brigadier General upon Colonels of the National Guard Volodymyr Barziuk, Oleksandr Biletsky, Oleksandr Bilous, Vitaliy Kozaletov and Kostiantyn Pletko.

The press release published by the President of Ukraine on 26 March 2022.

As of March 26, ten humanitarian corridors have been agreed in Ukraine to evacuate people from settlements affected by the Russian invasion. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories Iryna Vereshchuk.

In the Donetsk region, the evacuation of people on private transport is planned from Mariupol to the city of Zaporizhzhia.

According to Iryna Vereshchuk, Mariupol residents can refuel their cars for free in Berdyansk at 87B Melitopolske Highway. At the same time, due to the blockade of buses by the occupiers at checkpoints, there will be no centralized evacuation of Mariupol residents today.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that people can turn to humanitarian headquarters in Berdyansk to get the necessary help and shelter. Their contacts: 3-62-76, 3-52-52, (097) 551-59-17 and (050) 439-75-29. Mariupol residents can also call the call center in the city of Zaporizhzhia: (095) 220-41-11, (067) 220-41-12 and 0800-503-508.

The following routes have been agreed in the Kyiv region:

From the village of Plesetske to the city of Fastiv. The meeting place is the village council building at 57 Tsentralna Street.

From the village of Severynivka to Bilohorodka. The meeting place is 20 Ivana Mazepa Street.

From the urban-type settlement of Borodyanka to Bila Tserkva. The meeting place is 331 Tsentralna Street.

From the villages of Chervona Sloboda, Rozhiv and Sytnyaky to Bila Tserkva. The meeting place is a shopping center at 46 Lesi Ukrainky Street, Chervona Sloboda village.

Evacuation buses will depart from Bila Tserkva, Fastiv and Bilohorodka.

“Slavutych, Dymer, Ivankiv – we hear you and we know that you need routes (for evacuation – ed.). We are working on it,” Iryna Vereshchuk stressed.

In the Luhansk region, evacuation buses and humanitarian aid will be sent from the city of Bakhmut. Agreed corridors: from the city of Rubizhne (meeting place – 11 Chekhova Street); from the urban-type settlement of Nyzhne (meeting place – 13 Parkova Street); from the city of Lysychansk (meeting place – GTV, quarter of 40 years of Victory, 324 Sosyury Street); from the city of Popasna (meeting place – 42 Pervomayska Street); from the city of Severodonetsk (meeting place – 28 Khimikiv Avenue) and from the city of Hirske (meeting place – 13 Haharyna Street).

“According to our information, the occupiers have planned a demonstration action today – they are going to forcibly deport ethnic Armenians, Azerbaijanis and Meskhetian Turks from the city of Kherson to the temporarily occupied Ukrainian Crimea… The Russians understand that they are losing control, so they resort to propaganda – take people to Crimea, which is still under their control. However, these steps are futile and criminal,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Iryna Vereshchuk stressed that Kherson residents are actively and massively protesting against the occupation.

“Kherson and Kherson residents, you are our heroes!” she said.