President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about the necessity of legally recognizing Russia as a state-sponsor of terrorism and the importance of timely evacuation of people from the Donbas conflict zone.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

Over this period, our country has received many signals from various countries condemning Russia's terrorist act in Olenivka. The world sees the truth. And I thank all of our partners who are ready to join in establishing all the circumstances of this terrible loss of our hostages.

All evidence of this crime by the occupiers will be collected. All those responsible — whoever agreed, whoever organized, whoever lured these people, whoever knew about it — they will all be found. But still, that is not enough yet.

There must also be legal steps from the international community regarding a state-sponsor of terrorism. It's not enough to condemn this mass murder at the level of political rhetoric alone. What kind of relations can there be with a terrorist? How can business be conducted with such a country?

Ukrainian diplomats and all friends of Ukraine abroad will further intensify their efforts to track down and eliminate all connections that the state-sponsor of terrorism still enjoys.

And formal legal recognition of Russia as a state-sponsor of terrorism, especially by the US State Department, is necessary not just as a political gesture but as an effective protection for the free world. Such a decision will automatically complicate life for the state-sponsor of terrorism and automatically sever various political and business ties that otherwise Russia would retain.

And all this will happen one hundred percent. This must be done — it's just a matter of time and format in which this decision is made. And the sooner this happens, the less harm Russia will manage to do.

Exactly such motivation needs to be heard now by all those people who are still remaining on Donbas, in the zones of the fiercest battles. There are hundreds of thousands of people there, tens of thousands of children... Many refuse to leave... But this really needs to be done. This decision will have to be made anyway. It will! Believe me.

And the sooner this is done, the more people will leave Donetsk region now, and the fewer people the Russian army will manage to kill.

Therefore, if you have the ability, please talk to those who are still remaining in the conflict zones on Donbas. Please convince them that they need to leave, especially if it's families with children. If you can help evacuees — do so.

The government decision for mandatory evacuation from Donetsk region exists, everything is being organized. Full support, full assistance — logistical and payments. All we need is the decision by people who have not yet made it for themselves. Go, we will help you.

We are not Russia. That's why every life matters to us. And we will use all available means to save as many lives as possible and limit Russian terror to the maximum extent.

At this stage of war, for Russia, terror is its main weapon. And so the main task of each Ukrainian, each defender of freedom and humanity in the world — is to do everything to isolate a state-sponsor of terrorism and protect as many people as possible from Russian strikes.

I am grateful to everyone who fights for Ukraine! To our heroes!

Grateful to all who save our people from this Russian terror!

We will win them all!

Glory to Ukraine!"