President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, detailing the atrocities committed by Russian forces in formerly occupied territories and the situation at the front.

"Ukrainians,

Today several of our cities would have celebrated their city days — including Kherson and Berdyansk, which are still under occupation. For now. No matter what forces occupiers expend on them, no matter what they say there, our Kherson and our Berdyansk never lost their Ukrainian soul for a single moment, never lost faith in Ukraine. And we never forgot about them either — we will definitely return.

Just as we liberated Kyiv Oblast, Chernihiv Oblast, and Sumy Oblast, just as now we are liberating Kharkiv Oblast, we will free other regions too, all of our land. Wherever there is Ukraine, our flag will be raised, and nowhere will remain this savagery — Russian fascism that repeats what the Nazis did.

They do not even treat people nicely, they don't make lampshades out of skin... The scale may not cover all of Europe... But the principle is the same. Camps where people are gathered to be killed. Deportations. Burned cities and villages, completely destroyed — nothing remains alive after Russian fascism. Rocket terror. Mass burials. Katyn-like massacres. The most cruel tortures inflicted on still-living people. And boundless hatred without any justification for this war that they started.

Today in Izium of Kharkiv Oblast, exhumation work continued at the site of a discovered mass grave. Forensic examinations of the bodies are being conducted. New evidence of torture inflicted on those buried there has been obtained. In liberated areas of Kharkiv Oblast, more than ten Katyn-like massacres have already been found — in various cities and villages. When occupiers fled, they left behind devices for torturing people. Even at a regular train station in Kozatska Lopan, torture facilities were found, along with tools for electrocution. This is just a regular train station! Torture was widespread on occupied territory. The Nazis did this too. Russian fascists do it now. And they will answer for it — both on the battlefield and in courtrooms. We will identify all those who tortured, who inflicted suffering, who brought this savagery from Russia to our Ukrainian land.

The situation at the front over the past day did not see significant changes. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, units of our intelligence services, SBU, National Guard are gradually, step by step, pushing back occupiers from our land. But more time is still needed, more efforts are required, and we must remain fully focused on defense and preserving all our strength. Many Russian soldiers have already realized that they have no chance in Ukraine, that they will be defeated. The most sensible of Russian military personnel surrender to us, and we guarantee them adherence to all rights according to conventions. And we will continue to press so that all occupiers understand this. We will hit them harder than before.

I thank everyone in our armed forces — from commanders to rank-and-file soldiers! I thank every person who helps our defense! I thank all partners supporting the investigation of occupier crimes and working with us to hold Russia accountable for this war and its consequences! And I thank everyone helping to restore normal life after our heroes liberate our land!

Now liberated areas of Kharkiv Oblast can finally live — food is being delivered, medicines are arriving, power supply has been restored, pensions have been brought in, transport and railways are resuming operations. The time will come — we will rebuild everything that occupiers destroyed. And there will be a day when I can say this about every city of ours still under occupation. About Kherson, Berdyansk, Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol. Of course, about Crimea too. Ukraine will return. Ukraine will win!

Glory to Ukraine!"