President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy states that the evacuation of people from flooded areas after the destruction of the Kakhovskaya dam continues even under the fire of Russian artillery. “The situation in the occupied part of the Kherson region is truly catastrophic. The occupiers simply abandoned people in these terrible conditions. There is no rescue, there is no water, on the roofs in the flooded settlements,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy says, News.ro reports. Zelensky calls for the involvement of international organizations, such as the Red Cross, to save people in the Russian-occupied territory of the Kherson region.

“Today, maximum attention is paid to the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the Kakhovskaya HPP. Dozens of settlements in the territory under our control were flooded. Thousands of houses! Evacuation continues. Into the fire! Russian artillery continues to fire no matter what. Barbarians!” – said in the message of Volodymyr Zelensky, sent on Wednesday evening.

He noted that more than 2,000 people have been rescued in the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions.

“The situation in the occupied part of the Kherson region is truly catastrophic. The occupiers simply abandoned people in these terrible conditions. No rescue, no water, on the roofs in flooded settlements. And this is another deliberate crime of Russia: after the terrorist state has caused a catastrophe, it maximizes the damage caused,” said the President of Ukraine.

“Large-scale efforts are needed. It is necessary that international organizations immediately join rescue operations.”

According to him, a “clear and quick” reaction of the world to what is happening is needed.

“It is impossible to even accurately determine how many people from the temporarily occupied territories of the Kherson region could have died without rescue, without drinking water, without food, without medical assistance. Our army and special services are rescuing as many people as possible, despite the bombing. But large-scale efforts are needed. We need international organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, to immediately join the rescue operation and help people in the occupied part of Kherson region. Every person who dies there is a sentence to the existing international architecture and international organizations that have forgotten to save lives. If now there is no international organization in the zone of this disaster, it means that it does not exist at all, that it cannot function. All relevant appeals of Ukraine and our government have been made,” Volodymyr Zelenskyi emphasized.

“Last fall, we warned the world that Russia was mining the Kakhovskaya HPP. Unfortunately, the world’s attention was not enough”

He thanked the leaders and heads of states and governments for their expressed support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russian ecocide.

“Together we must bring the occupiers to justice. They controlled the dam and the entire hydroelectric plant for more than a year. Russian propagandists seriously and publicly discussed even the scenario of man-made disaster that they caused. Last fall, we warned the world that Russia had mined the Kakhovskaya HPP. We demanded both the sending of an international observation mission to Kakhovka and the demining of the plant’s blocks and facilities. Unfortunately, the attention of the world was not enough to assure us of all this. Now we have to focus the world’s attention on eliminating the consequences of another catastrophe caused by Russia, and prevent further destructive activities of the occupiers,” Zelenskyy added.

“The world will be with us. Our partners are fully informed about what is happening and what kind of help we need”

He noted that he discussed with the President of Turkey Erdogan the situation in the flooded areas, the rescue operation and urgent assistance to people, as well as the risks from the Zaporizhzhya NPP, which is under the control of the Russians. .

“We have an agreement with the IAEA to intensify the work of agency representatives at the plant. But it is clear that as long as residents are there, there cannot be complete security. Therefore, the de-occupation of Ukraine is a mission without alternative,” said the Ukrainian president.

He also recalled the discussion with French President Macron about the consequences of the Russian terrorist attack on the factory and how to help people in the affected regions, as well as the defense actions and international measures that are being prepared.

He also touched on important aspects for the whole country, but especially for people in regions that depend on reservoirs from Kakhovka.

“We will provide everyone with drinking water. In all regions, districts, cities and villages where necessary. Where there is drinking water now, all the necessary networks will be installed. The main principle is stability of supplies. The world will be with us. Our partners are fully informed about what is happening and what kind of help we need. Regardless of the economic, social and environmental consequences of this disaster, all the basics of life will be preserved. Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipro regions – we all see problems and will do everything possible and impossible to solve the problems created by the occupiers,” Zelenskyy said.

He emphasized that it is the direct duty of the authorities in all affected areas to help people.

Zelenskyi also thanked the fighters who continue the fight against the occupiers, congratulating them from the Bakhmut, Avdiyiv, Khortytsky and Tavriy directions.

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