Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, has stated that he believes Russian special troops have penetrated Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, and have targeted him for assassination.
Zelensky, dressed in military camouflage, issued a video message late Thursday, February 24 “The enemy has designated me as target No. 1, and my family as target No. 2. They seek to politically destabilize Ukraine by assassinating the president. We’ve received reports that enemy sabotage groups have arrived in Kyiv.”
“I’m staying with others in the government quarter,” he said.
He also proclaimed that Ukrainian males between the ages of 18 and 60 are prohibited from leaving the nation in order to defend the country militarily against Russian attacks, as he orders a full mobilization.
“In order to ensure the defense of the state, maintaining combat and mobilization readiness of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, a broad-based mobilization was ordered, including in the capital, Kyiv, and all Ukraine’s major cities,” Zelensky said in a statement signed late Thursday.
The statement stated, “Mobilization shall be carried out within 90 days after the date of entrance into force of this Decree.”
“During the universal mobilization,” the mobilization also instructed “the Security Service of Ukraine to adopt counterintelligence measures.”
“Conscription of conscripts, reservists for military service, their delivery to military units and institutions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” and other state security services were ordered.
“It is specifically banned for men aged 18-60, who are Ukrainian citizens, to leave Ukraine’s borders,” the statement read. “This regulation will be in effect for the duration of the martial law legal regime. We request that citizens take this information into account.”
His statement follows Russia’s early attack on Kyiv on Thursday, which included a series of missile launches and the employment of long-range artillery against the city of Kharkiv, which is close to the Russian border.
As Russian forces assaulted Ukraine from three sides, it soon swept across central and eastern Ukraine.