1888 settlements liberated, same number is still occupied – Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian forces have liberated 1,888 settlements, but almost the same number of cities and villages are still occupied.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, in an address to Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Foundation on 7 December 

Quote: "On 24 February, Russia started a full-scale war against us. And this is a war for survival. Hundreds of our cities and villages were simply burned to the ground by Russian strikes.

We have already managed to free from occupation one thousand eight hundred and eighty eight settlements. But almost as many Ukrainian towns and villages remain under occupation. And this means that now the fate of millions of people is being decided on the battlefield in Ukraine. Millions – who can be saved.

We have no right to leave even a single Ukrainian under the Russian occupation! Not in Russian filtration camps, where thousands have already disappeared. And not on Russian territory, where hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians were forcibly deported... We can free them."

Details: Zelenskyy, speaking in English, said that American support helps defend against Russian terror and gives hope.

He emphasised that support "is not about politics, it is about life."

Zelenskyy stated that now "is that very time – when support literally means saving, saving millions of people, millions of fathers and mothers, millions of children."

He thanked the USA for its support and expressed his certainty that one day the whole of Ukraine will be free and safe from Russian encroachments.

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