As the pounding of Ukraine continues by Russia in ongoing war between the two Eastern countries, rising death toll has set in worries.
Viktor Liashko, head of the Ukrainian health ministry, says 198 civilians have been killed in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
The minister said on Saturday, that three children were among of those who died, according to Ukrinform, the country’s news agency.
He said 1,115 people were wounded, including 33 children.
“According to operational data, we have 198 dead at the hands of the gunpowder, including three children, 1,115 injured, 33 of which were children,” he said.
“Military defend the country with weapons in their hands, weapons of doctors are selfless labor. No one has been home for three days, and it won’t be soon. But we are ready and giving away. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the ZSU.”
What was initially diplomatic tension between the two countries escalated when Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, announced the start of a special military operation in Donbas on Thursday.
Russian troops pressed towards Ukraine’s capital on Saturday — after a night of explosions and street fighting sent Kyiv residents seeking shelter underground, and some piling up at borders to escape the war.
Even though Russia claims its attack on Ukraine targets only soldiers, civilians have been killed.
In a video on social media, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said all 27 European leaders he asked for help refused to fight with Ukraine.
But Zelenskyy had earlier refused an offer from the US government to evacuate, insisting he would stay.
“The fight is here,” Zelenskyy said.
Martial law has been imposed throughout Ukraine, with Zelenskyy signing a decree on general mobilisation.
“We’ll give weapons to anyone ready to defend the country,” he said.
Ukraine may be the underdog, but there seems to be some hope for the county, at least for its population.
In a Facebook post tagged ‘The Face of War,’ Liashko said while the country is under shelling and explosions, they have also recorded the births of two new Ukrainians.
“Yesterday, two boys were born in a maternity hospital set up in a bomb shelter in Kherson city. Two new lives that already have War in their genetic code. We and they will never forget and will never forgive,” he said.
“Life goes on, we give birth to children, and no one can beat us.”
However, Ukraine on Saturday denied suggestions that it was refusing to negotiate a ceasefire with Russia but said it was also not ready to accept ultimatums or unacceptable conditions.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the office of Ukrainian President Zelenskiyy, told journalists that Ukraine had prepared a negotiating position but was faced with impractical negotiating conditions from Russia.
“It was yesterday that the aggressive actions of the armed forces of the Russian Federation escalated, up to evening and night mass air and missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
“We consider such actions only an attempt to break Ukraine and force it to accept categorically unacceptable conditions,” he said in a message.