Russian invasion of Ukraine marks one month; Zelenskyy calls for global protests, says this war is ‘against freedom’

"Come to your schoolyards, your streets. Say that people matter, freedom matters, peace matters, Ukraine matters," said Zelenskyy in a video message.

(Credits: ANI)

New Delhi: As the Russian invasion of Ukraine completes 30 days on Thursday (March 24, 2022), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a video message, urged citizens around the world to take to the streets to protest against Russia`s invasion.

Zelenskyy in a video message posted on social media platforms by the Ukraine Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "From this day and after that, show your standing. Come from your offices, your homes, your schools and universities. Come in the name of peace. Come with Ukrainian symbols to support Ukraine, to support freedom, to support life."

The video was tweeted with the caption, "The war of #Russia is not only the war against #Ukraine. started the war against freedom as it is. That`s why I ask you to stand against the war! Starting from March 24 - exactly one month after the Russian invasion All as one together who want to stop the war!"

.@ZelenskyyUa: The war of #Russia is not only the war against #Ukraine.started the war against freedom as it is.

That’s why I ask you to stand against the war! Starting from March 24 - exactly one month after the Russian invasion

All as one together who want to stop the war! pic.twitter.com/BUyqY3DJ37 — MFA of Ukraine (@MFA_Ukraine) March 23, 2022

Calling for global protests beginning Thursday, one month after Russia`s invasion of Ukraine, speaking in English, Zelenskyy said, "Come to your schoolyards, your streets. Say that people matter, freedom matters, peace matters, Ukraine matters.” 

"In downtowns of your cities, all as one together who want to stop the war," he added.

In the early hours of February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the Donetsk and Luhansk People`s Republics (DPR and LPR) appealed for help in defending themselves against the Kyiv forces.

Russia said that the aim of its special operation is to demilitarize and "denazify" Ukraine and that only military infrastructure is being targeted - the civilian population is not in danger. Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it has no plans to occupy Ukraine.

According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the goal is to protect the people of Donbas, "who have been subjected to abuse, genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years."

However, the Western countries have strongly condemned Russia`s invasion of Ukraine and imposed heavy sanctions on Moscow. 

(With ANI inputs)