Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed his country's resistance against Russia's invading forces, as the conflict continued for a 48th day. He said the future of Ukraine "directly depends on the strength of our resistance in all its forms", noting Russia had hoped to seize Kyiv within 48 hours.
In his daily address in the early hours of Wednesday, he said: "In 48 hours, which stretched for 48 days, the Russian army has reached a level of irreparable losses higher than that of the Soviet Union in 10 years of war in Afghanistan. Higher than that of Russia in the two wars in Chechnya."
Zelensky said it was "inevitable" Russia would be held accountable for "war crimes". He said: "It was also stated in Russia today that the massacre committed by the Russian military in Bucha was allegedly a 'staging'. For some reason, the massacres in Borodyanka, Hostomel, Makariv, cities and villages of the Chernihiv region, Kharkiv region and Donbas have not been commented on yet."
