The world community has been startled by a revelation from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine in a video that 137 civilians and military personnel had been killed in the country on the first day of Russian invasion with 316 wounded, Al Jazeera reported.
He described the victims as “heroes.”
“They’re killing people and turning peaceful cities into military targets. It’s foul and will never be forgiven,” he said, referring to Russian forces.
The numbers are expected to rise following recent strikes, including reported strikes in Kyiv Friday morning.
President Zelenskyy also said that Russia had named him “target number one,” and “my family is the number two target. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state. I will stay in the capital. My family is also in Ukraine.”
He also voiced frustration with the outcome of discussions that he said he had with the heads of NATO member states.
“We have been left alone to defend our state,” Mr Zelenskiy said. “Who is ready to fight alongside us? I don’t see anyone. Who is ready to give Ukraine a guarantee of NATO membership? Everyone is afraid.”
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, over 100,000 Ukrainians have moved out of their homes in search of safety and few thousands have crossed over into Moldova, Romania and other countries.
“We have preparedness plans everywhere, together with respective governments,” Mr Grandi said.
“With the death toll rising, we are seeing images of fear, anguish and terror in every corner of Ukraine. The protection of civilians must be priority number one. International humanitarian and human rights law must be upheld,” Antonio Guterres, UN chief, tweeted.
Russia in a ‘special military operation’ attacked Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday through different flanks; including Crimea and Russia.
Despite numerous sanctions from world leaders and organisations, President Vladimir Putin of Russia said he remained undeterred in his mission to ‘denazify’ Ukraine.
Meanwhile, The UN refugee agency said around 100,000 people had fled their homes within Ukraine and several thousand more had left the country since neighbouring Russia invaded early Thursday.
“We believe that some 100,000 people must have already left their homes and may be displaced inside the country, and several thousand have crossed international borders,” UNHCR spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo told AFP.
Refugee High Commissioner Filippo Grandi had voiced serious concern at the rapid deterioration of the situation as military operations unfolded across Ukraine and urged neighbouring countries to keep their borders open for those seeking safety and shelter.
“We are continuing to closely follow the situation and are reinforcing our operations in Ukraine and neighbouring countries,” the agency said.