Defense Minister believes that Russia will not be able to take Kiev or any other Ukrainian city
MADRID, 12 (EUROPE PRESS)
Thousands of people have participated in a demonstration for the Unity of Ukraine held this Saturday in Kiev, the country’s capital, in response to threats of a Russian military invasion.
The Ukrainian press has reported that the march has begun in Shevchenko Park in an act in which the organizers have summoned the Ukrainians to put aside their political differences, unite and express their rejection of the “Russian threat”.
“We want to show that the Ukrainians are not afraid of the threats of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, that they do not accept his ultimatums and that they will resist whatever the situation,” said the coordinator of the Resistance Movement, Andriy Leus.
One of the attendees, Anna Fedkun, has acknowledged her nervousness since Russia launched its “aggression” eight years ago and now with a new Russian threat that feeling has intensified.
“It is very difficult to sit at home with this anxiety. That is why I have come to see all these people and know that I am not alone to overcome my nerves and show the world that we are not going to give up,” she declared.
THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE KIEV
On the other hand, the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Alexei Reznikov, has assured that the Russian forces could not take Kiev, Kharkov or Odessa because “the Ukrainian Army is much stronger and much better prepared than in 2014”, when Russia took Crimea and entered the Ukraine in support of the Donetsk and Lugansk separatist militias.
“Then there were many people who were not psychologically prepared to resist (…). Now the situation is completely different,” Reznikov said. The combats of that time “have left scars on the heart, but they have hardened freedom”.
“The heroic defense of the Donetsk and Lugansk airports, the day-to-day defense of dozens of villages has made our fighting spirit unbreakable,” the minister assured. “Anyone who looks our soldiers in the eye even once will be convinced that 2014 will not be repeated, that the aggressor will not take Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov or any other city,” he stressed.
Reznikov also stressed that this month Ukraine has received 2,000 tons of modern military equipment from various countries that the Ukrainian military is ready to use.
On the other hand, the commander of the Armed Forces, Valeri Zaluzhni, has stressed that there are 420,000 Ukrainian soldiers and that all of them and their officers “have already looked death in the eye.” “We will not give up a single piece of Ukrainian land!” He snapped.
“We are prepared to face the enemy and not with flowers, but with stinger, javelin and NLAW missiles. Welcome to hell!” he added.