Address of Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov
Ministry of Defence of Ukraine,
posted
05 March 2022
09:40
9 days 4 hours 2 minutes. Ukraine has been protecting the world.
The tenth day of resistance to the Russian terrorists. The tenth day of courage of the Armed Forces, guardsmen, border guards, rescuers, wariors of other security forces, and all the Ukrainians who are heroically defending. Thanks to all our people, the Kremlin's plans to subdue Ukrainians in two days, seize large cities, overthrow the state authorities and annex Ukraine have failed.
Obviously, the enemy has advanced in some directions, however it controls only small areas. Our defenders are severely countering and ousting the occupiers.
Considering, slow down of the offensive pace and resistance of the Ukrainians, Russia is changing tactics.
As of today, the Ukrainian sky is the most vulnerable. The aggressor uses its aerial and missile potential comprehensively and actively. All types of aviation are bombing our cities, towns and civilian infrastructure, including critical infrastructure and dangerous infrustracture, among them - nuclear and hydro power plants.
The "great" army has shown its true nature of a coward terrorist who is able to attack only the civilian population - children, women, unarmed peaceful civilians. Targeted shelling, bombing and missile salvos on residential apartment buildings, schools, kindergartens and hospitals. The enemy is destroying churches and cathedrals. It is shelling railway stations with thousands of evacuating women and children. These are the tactics of frightened jackals. Nevertheless I am confident that the enemy will pay for every life and for every tear.
I admire the stamina of the Ukrainians in Mariupol, Volnovakha, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Mykolayiv, Kherson and all other cities where currently the situation is the most complex.
The courage of our people is impressive! Even those without weapons and aged, all of them are defending their homes. The occupiers are coursed by both Ukrainian and Russian speaking people. We did not have and do not have language differences. The direction for the Russian warship and for the occupier is the same on all languages. These languages belongs to the people of 100 nationalities for whom Ukraine is a home.
We are working on a silence regime and opening of humanitarian corridors. The enemy does not know the value of human life, but we will do everything we can to help our citizens. We really hope that the humanitarian corridor will work and we will be able to evacuate civilians.
As for the current situation on the directions. The armed forces control the situation, hold the lines and counterattack, pushing back the enemy.
The main efforts of the occupiers were focused on the encirclement of Kyiv and depressing resistance in the cities and towns, which they blocked. Defenders of Kyiv continue to counter the enemy's offensive, inflicting cassualties to the enemy offensive troops.
On Volyn direction, the positions of our troops have not changed significantly.
On the northern (Siversk) direction Chernihiv is carrying out heroic defence. Ukrainian troops are holding positions on the occupied lines.
In the area of Mykhailo-Kotsyubynske, Chernihiv region, a column of up to 200 units of equipment and manpower is standing in front of the water barrier. The bridge across the river was destroyed.
On Slobozhansk direction, the Ukrainian service people are continuing defense and are successfully defeating the enemy.
The Joint forces in a composition of two operational-tactical groops, as it was before, are still conducting the defence operation.
On Prymorsky direction our defenders are covering the sea coast and carring out tasks on prevention of Mykolaiv encirclement.
The Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are countering enemy air attacks. As a result of systematic hostilities, which are continuing,the Russian invaders have lost 39 aircrafts and 40 helicopters.
The losses of the enemy are growing, not to mention degrading motivation. They did not have the motivation and do not have it. Morale and combat spirit of the occupying forces are at all-time low.
The enemy military resources in Ukraine are running out, it will face a logistical collapse.
The enemy realize this and the tendency to surrender among the enemy is growing. That is not only about single soldiers, but about whole platoons. They have already understood that the bodies of thousands of their "exercise" comrads, who received 200 points in the exam, remained in a foreign land. After all, Moscow does not recognize their deaths, for Putin they are cannon fodder, an expense in his tries to achieve the imperial dream. Many of them have already understood that they have been betrayed.
Therefore, I repeat, the only way for the occupier to save his or her life is to surrender.
The struggle continues. Ukrainians in all cities are making it clear - Russia has never been expected here!
We are on our land and we are not glad to see the occupiers here!
Let us hold the line and stay united for victory!