Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned citizens in the occupied territories against mobilizing the Russian military. “By all means, hide from the Russian mobilization. Avoid summonses,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video speech yesterday. Those who have already been drafted into the Russian army should sabotage its activities and report to Kyiv and then flee as quickly as possible, he added.
According to him, the Ukrainian army has recaptured 9,000 square kilometers and liberated 400 cities since the start of its offensive. He emphasized that this was also possible thanks to the help of the local population. The advance strengthened Kiev’s position during the UN General Assembly. “Ukraine has shown that not only the truth is with us, but also the force,” said Zelenskyy. He praised the Ukrainian delegation’s appearance in New York as the most successful in Ukrainian history.
He also criticized false referendums in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. The world unequivocally condemned these “pseudo-referendums,” Zelensky said. He spoke of crimes against Ukrainian law and international law. In the regions of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhia, Russian occupation forces are holding votes to join Russia. These are not internationally recognized because they violate democratic norms.