Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been moved to a bunker as Russian forces close in on Kyiv, according to a reporter positioned in the capital city.
“He’s in a bunker, we understand at the moment, in a secret location, though he says he’s in the sort of central part of Kyiv still,” reported CNN’s Matthew Chance on Thursday, soon after Zelensky delivered another address to his nation.
In a video posted to his Facebook account Thursday evening, nearly one day into Russia’s invasion, Zelensky said 137 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed and 316 injured since the attack began.
Zelensky also said he believes Russian saboteur groups have entered Kyiv.
⚡️”I stay in the capital with my people, my family is also in #Ukraine“
There is information that the enemy has marked me as target number 1, and my family – target number 2 – Vladimir Zelensky. pic.twitter.com/0lOI8E2owi
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 24, 2022
PUTIN’S ‘BULLDOZER’: RUSSIAN TROOPS BATTER UKRAINE FROM LAND, AIR, AND SEA
“According to our information, the enemy marked me as target No. 1 — my family as target No. 2. They want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state. We have information that enemy sabotage groups have entered Kyiv,” he said.
“I am staying in the government quarter together with others,” Zelensky added, according to CNN.
President Joe Biden’s press secretary said the United States is in touch with Zelensky but declined to comment on his safety amid the invasion.
“We’re not going to get into security questions, but we are in touch with President Zelensky, and we are working to provide him a range of support,” Jen Psaki told reporters.
Russian military forces captured the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as part of their invasion. Former NATO Cmdr. Wesley Clark said Thursday that Russia is assaulting Ukraine to overwhelm them and create an opening in Kyiv for Russia to take out the country’s leadership.
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In response to Russia’s invasion Wednesday night, Zelensky enacted martial law and banned all men ages 18 to 60 from leaving the country. The invasion has prompted worldwide protests against Russian President Vladimir Putin, including from within Russia. Western nations have also begun enacting economic sanctions against Russia.
In his televised address announcing a “special military operation,” Putin said the new military attack was aimed at the “demilitarization and denazification” of Ukraine, not its occupation.
President Joe Biden laid out sanctions against Russia during an address he delivered Thursday afternoon, which included locking out Russia and Russian citizens from global financial systems. Biden described Russia’s invasion as “a dangerous moment for all of Europe, for freedom around the world.”
