Zelensky calls for strength in the face of a possible Russian escalation ahead of the celebration of Independence Day

MADRID, 21 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The President of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, has asked his citizens for strength in the face of a possible escalation of attacks by the Russian Army due to the celebration of Independence Day, which is celebrated annually on August 24.

"We must all be strong enough to resist any enemy provocation, as long as it takes for the occupiers to answer for all their blows and terror, for Kharkov and Donbas, for Azovstal and Nikolaev, (...) for Bucha and Irpin, for all cities," Zelensky urged.

In this sense, the Ukrainian president has begged citizens to remain united because "one of Putin's tasks" is "humiliation" through "despair, fear and conflict", he assured.

"We must be aware that this week Russia may try to do something particularly cruel," he warned, before admitting that during the last six months Moscow has committed "cruelties" constantly.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces warned on Thursday that Russia was concentrating a large number of anti-aircraft missiles near the borders and in the occupied territories. "The threat of a massive bombardment of the Ukrainian territory (...) is obvious," said the Armed Forces Communications Office in a message published on Telegram, in which they indicated that said concentration was due to the arrival of the special day of Ukraine, August 24.

Likewise, Zelensky explained that this week kyiv will celebrate Independence Day because "it is a very important day" and "it is ahead". "We will remember our legends: this is and will be a Ukrainian tradition," he said.

August 24, apart from commemorating Independence Day, will mark half a year of the war in Ukraine, since Russian troops began their attacks on Ukrainian territory on February 24, the day Putin decreed the "operation special military".