Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address released Monday that the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol is being “reduced to ashes” by Russia's military aggression, but added that the city will “survive.”
Mariupol, which before the war was home to around 450,000 people, has been under near constant attack from Russian forces since early March with satellite images showing significant destruction to residential areas.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday that “what's happening Mariupol is a massive war crime.”
Zelensky in his address went on to again urge the Ukrainians to “do everything you can to defend our country, to save our people.”
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in late February, “we are seeing more and more Ukrainian heroes. Once ordinary Ukrainians, and now True fighters,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader also said that the ordinary citizens in Ukraine are “rising” to the point that Russia “doesn’t believe that this is the reality,” and added, "we will make Russia believe.”
“Fight, keep on fighting, and help,” he urged the Ukrainians.