Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a press conference on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a press conference on Russia's military operation in Ukraine, on February 25, 2022 in Kyiv.Photo by Presidency of Ukraine/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
  • Ukraine's Zelensky posted a defiant video on Friday, purportedly from streets of besieged Kyiv.
  • "We're in here. We are in Kiev. We defend Ukraine," he said in a Facebook post with the video.
  • He said he was with Ukraine's prime minister, presidential advisor, and president's office head.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky posted a defiant video on Friday, purportedly from streets of besieged Kyiv, with top government leaders.

"We are all here," he said in a video posted to his Facebook page with the words: "We're in here. We are in Kiev. We defend Ukraine."

Zelensky said he was with Ukraine's prime minister, presidential advisor, and head of the president's office.

"Our military are here, our citizens and society are here. We are all here defending our independence, our state, and this is how it's going to be," he said.

"Glory to our defenders, men and women!" Zelensky added. "Glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes!"

Russian forces have closed in on Ukraine's capital city of Kyiv, where residents reported explosions since early Friday morning. 

In a video address late on Thursday, Zelensky said he plans to remain in Kyiv, despite being Russia's "number one target."

As the fight rages on, Ukraine's former President Petro Poroshenko took up a rifle to fight alongside civilians and told CNN he is prepared to fight with a "territorial defense" force battalion. 

Last month, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said he was creating "territorial defense brigades" for volunteers with military backgrounds. "If necessary, we are ready to defend our city," he said at the time.

In the wake of Russia's invasion, Ukraine's government has called on patriotic citizens to take up arms in defense of the country. A video posted to Twitter on Friday by Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko appeared to show Ukrainians helping themselves to weapons on a Kyiv street.

"All those who are ready to take up arms, join the ranks of the area defense forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We simplified procedures. Only your ID is needed. We give weapons to all patriots!" Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a tweet Thursday. The defense ministry has said the same.

The defense ministry has also called on residents of Kyiv to "make Molotov cocktails" to fight the Russians as they advance on the capital, a challenging endeavor in the face of Ukrainian resistance.

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