"Will Not Forgive" Zelensky Furious at Russian Military for Shelling Refugees

On the 5th (local time), a local resident fleeing outside the outskirts of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, is taking shelter under the destroyed Irpin River bridge.
Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly condemned the Russian troops who massacred a family fleeing within the country, saying "I will not forgive."

According to The Guardian and others on the 6th (local time), President Zelensky said in a video statement that afternoon, "The family only left the village to escape the shelling," adding, "How many families have died in Ukraine? I will not forgive. I will not forget." This statement came after eight civilians, including a family, were killed by Russian mortar attacks in the small town of Irpin on the northern outskirts of the capital Kyiv that day.

President Zelensky said to the Russian troops who attacked civilians, "We will punish all the 'X bastards' who committed atrocities in this war," and stated, "There is no quiet place for Russian troops on this land except graves."

He continued, "There will be more shelling ahead," adding, "This is planned murder. Forget humanitarian corridors; there will only be bloody corridors."

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine.
Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the New York Times (NYT) reporters who were at the shelling site, the Ukrainian military had previously blown up other bridges connected to Kyiv to slow the Russian advance. Therefore, hundreds of refugees leaving Irpin on the northern outskirts that day and heading south had no choice but to cross the old bridge there. The Ukrainian soldiers around them at the time were not combat troops but forces assisting civilian movement, numbering only about ten.

In the NYT footage, a man who appears to be a Ukrainian soldier is seen, and on the opposite side of the street, people presumed to be civilians are lined up carrying luggage along the sidewalk. Suddenly, a shell lands in the middle of the street, causing the camera to shake violently. Moments later, the street is covered in a cloud of dust.

When the reporters focused the video, a family was seen collapsed on the opposite side of the street: a woman, her teenage son, and a daughter estimated to be eight years old. The soldiers hurriedly crossed over to them, but according to the NYT, they had already lost consciousness. Around them were scattered luggage bags, and a pet dog was barking inside a carrier.

Regarding this, Oleksandr Markushyn, mayor of Irpin, raised his voice in a Telegram statement that day, saying, "Russian troops shelled villagers who were evacuating to nearby cities," calling it "a despicable act, and they (Russian troops) are monsters."

Meanwhile, according to CNN on the 6th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, "There are credible reports that Russian troops are attacking civilians," and ordered relevant departments in the U.S. to investigate whether Russia committed war crimes. In response, Ukrainian authorities decided to request an urgent ruling from the International Criminal Court (ICC) demanding Russia stop its invasion.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.