Here’s President Zelenskyy’s address from this evening in Kyiv. It has the usual English subtitles and the transcript, with my bolding and italicizing for emphasis, follows.
Today I will begin my evening address to you without greetings.
Today Russia launched another missile strike at Ukraine, at Odesa. As of now – 8 dead. At least 18 wounded. Ordinary peaceful people. Among those killed was a 3-month-old baby girl. How did she threaten Russia? It seems that killing children is just a new national idea of the Russian Federation.
The missiles were launched by Russian strategic aircraft. From the Caspian Sea region. We managed to shoot down two missiles. Five more missiles hit a peaceful city. Including the usual apartment house, the usual high-rise building.
We will identify all those responsible for this strike. Those responsible for Russia’s missile terror. Everyone who gives these orders. Everyone who fulfills these orders. No one will be able to hide. No matter how long it takes us, all these bastards will be responsible for every death they caused.
Russia has already fired most of its missile arsenal at Ukraine. Of course, they still have missiles. Of course, they can still continue the missile terror against our people. But what they have already done is definitely arguments sufficient for the world to eventually recognize the Russian state as a sponsor of terrorism and the Russian army as a terrorist organization. We will continue to insist on this in negotiations with our partners. There is simply no alternative to such recognition. That is why it is true.
The Russian state has become a terrorist, and it is not ashamed. And if it is not ashamed, it is deliberate. Therefore, there must be maximum responsibility.
New facts about the crimes of the occupiers against our Mariupol residents are being revealed. New graves of people killed by the occupiers are being found. We are talking about tens of thousands of dead Mariupol residents. Negotiations of the occupiers on how they conceal the traces of their crimes are recorded.
Russia continues the activities of so-called filtration camps, particularly near Mariupol. Although the honest name for them is, in fact, different – it’s concentration camps. Like those built by the Nazis in the past.
Ukrainians from these camps – the survivors – are sent further into the occupied territories and to Russia. The facts of deportation of our citizens to the Russian boondocks, to Siberia, even to Vladivostok are recorded. They also deport children hoping that they will forget where their home is and where they are from. And they are from Ukraine.
Today was Holy Saturday for Christians of the Eastern Rite. The day between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. It seems that Russia is stuck on such a day. For years. On the day when death triumphs and God is supposedly gone.
But there will be a Resurrection. Life will defeat death. The truth will defeat any lies. And evil will be punished. And Russia will have to learn these truths again, it’s only a matter of time. It is only a matter of time before all Russian murderers feel what a fair response to their crimes is. It is only a matter of time before we can bring all the deported Ukrainians home. It is only a matter of time before all our people all over Ukraine feel what a strong peace is.
I spoke today with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson. I informed him about the situation in Mariupol, in the areas of hostilities in general. I thanked him for the significant defensive and financial support for Ukraine. We coordinated further steps needed to protect our freedom.
We are also preparing for tomorrow’s important talks with American partners.
I held a big live press conference in Kyiv today. Answered many questions – different, from different journalists. Both Ukrainian and foreign. And it’s not just about openness, really. Not just about information. It’s about whose side the truth is on in the war. This is about who can speak truthfully both with his people and with the whole world. Ukrainians can. Our enemies cannot.
And finally. There will be a curfew tonight. Please follow this rule. This is important from a security point of view. But starting from 5 am you will be able to visit temples in your cities, towns and communities. Where it is possible to hold a church service. Please – only in the morning.
I am grateful to each of our defenders who ensure our security this night before Easter and every day. Who defend the state. Who fight for the freedom of Ukrainians.
Eternal glory to all our warriors!
Eternal memory to all who gave lives for Ukraine.
Glory to Ukraine!
I’ll have more on the attack on Odesa after the jump. But I want to highlight, like last night, the passage from President Zelenskyy’s remarks regarding Easter.
Today was Holy Saturday for Christians of the Eastern Rite. The day between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. It seems that Russia is stuck on such a day. For years. On the day when death triumphs and God is supposedly gone.
But there will be a Resurrection. Life will defeat death. The truth will defeat any lies. And evil will be punished. And Russia will have to learn these truths again, it’s only a matter of time.
Like his remarks from last night pertaining to Easter, President Zelenskyy’s statement this evening is also an excellent example of strategic communication. Both for tying Ukraine’s defense against Putin’s reinvasion to the religious context of this weekend for the majority of Ukrainians, but also because by the time he prepared, if not delivered these remarks he had most surely been briefed about this:
Putin is celebrating Orthodox Easter alongside the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, who he normally does this with instead of the actual family he doesn’t acknowledge in public pic.twitter.com/S0lwXwboex
— max seddon (@maxseddon) April 23, 2022
Putin ordered an airstrike on Odesa that killed a three month old and her mother and then he went to Church for Holy Saturday services.
President Zelenskyy’s remarks, leaning heavily into the Christian themes of this weekend – the battle between good and evil, the midpoint of that battle on Holy Saturday where the outcome for good seems less than certain – is intended to both fortify his citizenry in their defense of Ukraine and to clearly articulate the stakes of Ukraine’s defense, by contextualizing it within the religious themes of this weekend.
It is all the more striking because, as I noted last night, Jews don’t talk about Easter this way. Which is the third component of President Zelenskyy’s strategic communication yesterday and today. By making these themes explicit in a way that Jews never do, he is drawing a contrast with all the actual Christian religious leaders and the political leaders that lean heavily into their being Christians and why that is a reason they are fit for public office, who have said little or nothing. I’m sure you have noticed that some of the most publicly self declared Christians in the GOP caucuses in the US House and Senate either have said little and/or actually voted against providing assistance to Ukraine. I’m sure you’ve noticed that far too many of America’s always very public, always looking for a TV news camera to morally scold everyone else Christian leaders have said little to nothing and are hoping none of us have noticed that they’ve been playing footsie with Putin’s pet patriarch Kirill, Kirill’s trusted agents, and Putin’s pet oligarchs and siloviki for well over a decade at the National Prayer Breakfasts and at a variety of global Christian conferences. Franklin Graham may have placed one of his field hospitals in Ukraine, but he’s also been cozying up to Kirill and Putin for the better part of a decade.
President Zelenskyy’s remarks are not just to rally his own people on behalf of their just war defending Ukraine, they are intended to both highlight the hypocrisy of those who use their religion as both sword to oppress others and shield when called on their hypocrisy. Unfortunately you cannot shame the shameless.
Ukrainians are under warnings from both Metropolitan Epiphanius, Primate of Kyiv and Ukraine, as well as from the civilian government to stay in secure shelters tonight and tomorrow rather than go to church for Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday services.
⚡️ SBU: Russian shelling likely to increase on Easter.
Security Service has called for Ukrainians to stay home during Easter festivities.
The SBU published a recording in which an alleged Russian soldier says his troops are writing “Christ is risen” on the shells.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 23, 2022
This is why:
russians are preparing to shell Ukrainian towns this night & tomorrow as Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter. A russian soldier tells his woman that they are painting "Christ is risen" on the missiles. she laughs
Source: SBU intercepts #GenocideOfUkrainians #ArmUkraineNow pic.twitter.com/BBXDmyZx77— Olena Halushka (@OlenaHalushka) April 23, 2022
Much more after the jump.
War for Ukraine Update 59: Odesa Under FirePost + Comments (108)