President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, emphasizing that there is no doubt about the involvement of Russian military personnel in mass killings in temporarily occupied cities of our country.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

All our defenders and defenders!

Today was a truly difficult day. Emotional.

I visited our cities in Kyiv region that we liberated from occupiers. Hostomel, Irpin, Bucha.

Of course, the area looks different now than it did yesterday. The bodies of killed people, killed Ukrainians have already been removed from most streets. But in courtyards and houses, the dead are still there.

The cities are simply devastated. On the roads, burnt military equipment, wrecked and shot-up cars. Especially hard to look at bullet marks on cars with "Children" written on them.

We have only just begun investigating everything that occupiers did. At this point, it is known in Bucha alone about over three hundred killed and buried people. The list of victims will likely be much longer when the entire city has been verified. And this is just one town.

One of many Ukrainian communities captured by Russian military.

There is already information about Borodyanka and other liberated towns where the number of victims from occupiers may be even greater. In many villages in liberated areas of Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy regions, occupiers did things that locals had not seen even during Nazi occupation 80 years ago. Of course, there will be accountability for the occupiers.

We are already doing everything to establish all Russian military personnel responsible for these crimes as soon as possible. Everything so they can be punished. This is a joint effort of our state with the European Union and international institutions, including the International Criminal Court.

Discussed this today with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Also with Chancellor of Austria Nehammer. Agreed on his visit to Ukraine soonest.

Also spoke about investigations into Russian military war crimes with President of Poland Duda. Discussed new sanctions against Russia, humanitarian and defense cooperation with Poland.

All occupant crimes are being documented. The necessary procedural basis is ensured for bringing responsible Russian military personnel to account for each crime they committed. I want to emphasize: we are interested in the most comprehensive and transparent investigation of which results will be known and explained to the entire international community. We ensure maximum access for journalists to Bucha and other liberated cities of Ukraine. Hundreds of journalists from all over the world. And we are interested in thousands of journalists visiting there. As many as possible! So that the world sees what Russia did.

Sure, you know about the new old tactic of Russian propagandists who try to constantly deflect blame onto Russian military personnel.

Why new and old? Simple. Because they used this same tactic when occupiers shot down Malaysia Airlines "Boeing" over Donbas. They blamed Ukraine. Even came up with various conspiracy theories. Got so far as to even claim that they had planted bodies on the plane before it crashed.

Now, they are doing almost the same thing. Lying just as much. Trying to distort facts. But, like then, they will not succeed. They cannot fool the whole world.

The time will come when every Russian will know the truth about who among their fellow citizens was killing. Who ordered it. Who turned a blind eye to killings. We will establish all this. And make it globally known.

It is 2022 now. And we have far more tools than those who brought Nazi war criminals to justice after World War II.

We must also be aware that after the announcement of mass killings of civilians in Kyiv region, occupiers may approach their crimes on other territories differently where they entered our country. They are already launching a deceitful campaign to hide their guilt for mass killings of civilians in Mariupol. They will make dozens of staged interviews, remixed recordings, and will deliberately kill people so that it looks like someone else killed them.

They may try to hide the traces of their crimes now. They did not do this when retreating from Bucha. But on other territories, this is possible.

I want to say right away: every normal person in the world understands who brought war and mass deaths to Ukrainian land. There are countless proofs that Russian troops destroy peaceful cities. Kidnap, torture, kill civilians.

So now Russian propagandists and their bosses can only do one thing: work towards a future tribunal verdict similar to the verdict of Julius Streicher, one of the ideologues of Nazism, chief editor of the weekly "Der Stürmer." He was hanged for anti-Semitic propaganda and calls for genocide.

In our time they are not hanged. But all scabrous, evening chatterers, front-line liars, and their bosses in Moscow should remember this: your end will be behind bars. At best.

I also want to note the reaction of democratic world leaders to what they saw in Bucha. The sanction response to Russia for mass killings of civilians must finally be strong. But did we have to wait until such an event happened to remove doubts and indecision? Did hundreds of our people have to die in agony before some European leaders finally understood that the Russian state deserves maximum pressure?

This breaks every Ukrainian's heart. It breaks my heart too. Because only now do we hear statements from all world leaders that should have been made long ago, when everything was already absolutely clear.

Once again I emphasize: Ukraine must receive all necessary weapons to drive out occupiers faster and liberate our cities. And if we had received what we needed — all those planes, tanks, artillery, anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons — we could have saved thousands of lives. I am not blaming you — I blame only Russian military personnel. But you could have helped.

I will continue to say this in the eyes of everyone who decides on weapons for Ukraine.

We are already starting preparations for all necessary work to restore normal life in liberated areas. Surveying territory is underway. Our sappers neutralize thousands of hazardous items every day! Soon we will restore electricity supply, water supply throughout this area of our country. Ensure medical help and normal access to goods — as much as possible under current conditions.

Of course, we will also rebuild destroyed and damaged housing. Rebuild roads, bridges, infrastructure. Life will return to every city, every community that occupiers tried to destroy.

This week I continue addressing parliaments of nations around the world. Today was Romania. Thanked Romanian people for warm attitude towards our refugees. This is true. Called for stronger sanctions against Russia. Also spoke about leadership role of Romania in ensuring security in Black Sea region and restoring justice in Europe as a whole.

Tomorrow I will address the Spanish Parliament. And also at UN Security Council.

Expressed condolences today to President of Lithuania and all Lithuanian people regarding brutal killing by Russian occupiers in Mariupol of world-renowned documentary filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravicius. In 2016, he made a film about our peaceful Mariupol which not long before found itself on the front line in Donbas. And now his life was taken there too. Eternal memory!

We continue preparing for even more ruthless activity by occupiers in eastern and southern directions. We know what they are planning to do in Donbas. Know what they are planning to do near Kharkiv, in some other regions of the country. Russia is concentrating a significant number of troops and equipment there. And this activity proves that sanctions against Russia are insufficient. There will be more.

If Russian leadership does not start seeking peace seriously, making real agreements on peace, they will lead their state into the worst condition in 50 years. The so-called bad nineties will seem calm and peaceful by comparison.

And as usual before recording this address I signed a decree to honor our Ukrainian heroes with state awards. State awards were conferred on 152 military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, three posthumously.

Eternal glory to all our heroes!

Eternal memory to every one who died for our country!

Glory to Ukraine!">