New Delhi: A Russian soldier sent a message to his mother expressing fear from Ukraine. He texted his mother saying they were “bombing all of the cities” and “even targeting civilians".
Ukrainian United Nations ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya has read out the messages between a fallen Russian soldier and his mother in front of the UN General Assembly on Monday.
The messages were exchanged between the duo moments before the young man was killed in action. During an emergency session of the UN General Assembly, Kyslytsya read the messages of the Russian soldier where he said they were “bombing all of the cities” and “even targeting civilians".
Kyslytsya's video at the UN assembly was tweeted by American cable and satellite television network C-SPAN. The ambassador can be seen holding up a screenshot of the soldier's texts and urging the members of the assembly to visualize the magnitude of the tragedy.
Responding to his mother asking why it has been so long since he last responded and if she can send him a parcel, the Russian soldier said, “Mom, I’m in Ukraine. There is a real war raging here. I am afraid. We are bombing all of the cities, together. Even targeting civilians.”
“We were told that they would welcome us and they are falling under our armoured vehicles, throwing themselves under the wheels and not allowing us to pass. They call us fascists. Mama, this is so hard.”
Earlier on Monday, the Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs wrote on Twitter, “Russia promised its soldiers they would be greeted in Ukraine with flowers. Russia has been lying for years about how the Ukraine authorities are keeping Ukrainian people in 'captivity'. But the people of Ukraine are free and ready to stop Russian tanks with their bare hands.”</p
Ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine on Monday concluded without any breakthrough and there is no clarity on the new round of negotiations yet.
More than 500,000 people have fled Ukraine, according to the United Nations refugee agency, setting off a refugee crisis as thousands await passage at European border crossings.