President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about the inevitability of retribution for Russian killers and the true nature of what is called an "operational pause" in the actions of the occupiers.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

All our defenders!

Today, I have been receiving reports from the city of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk. A rescue operation is underway after a Russian strike on residential buildings there. Two high-rise buildings were destroyed. Dozens of people are under the rubble. Six were successfully rescued. The list of fatalities includes 15 names, and unfortunately, this is not the final count.

This was a missile attack. And everyone who issues orders for such strikes, everyone who carries them out in our cities, in residential areas, kills absolutely deliberately. After such attacks, killers cannot say that they did not know or understand anything... Everyone involved in this shelling, other missile strikes, everyone firing at our cities with rocket artillery, as in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Severodonetsk and Vuhledar — all of them will be found.

You know, Nazi killers are found and tried even when they have already reached 90 or 100 years old. They are hunted down around the world. Of course, we do not want to wait that long. But I mention this example to show that retribution is inevitable for every Russian killer — absolutely for each one of them, just as it was for Nazis. And let them not hope that their country will protect them. Russia will abandon them first when political circumstances change.

Since the beginning of this invasion, Ukrainian law enforcement has done everything necessary to document crimes committed by occupiers and gather evidence. Our partners from many countries are involved in this work as well. Russian terror long ago crossed the line where much of the civilized world realized that it is a matter of global security — to punish Russia, the state-terrorist, for all it has done against Ukraine and international law.

In my schedule for the coming weeks are such meetings and appeals as will contribute to restoring justice, contributing to the punishment of Russian war criminals. And this activity is not aimed only at Europe and other traditional regions for Ukrainian diplomacy work. We will do everything so that in Latin America, Asia, and Africa they hear the truth about Russian terror on our land.

Last week, much was said about some "operational pause" in the actions of occupiers in Donbas and other parts of Ukraine. 34 raids by Russian aviation over one day — this is an answer to all those who invented this "pause." The Ukrainian army holds on firmly, repelling attacks at various fronts. But, of course, much more needs to be done so that Russian losses become such that there will indeed be a pause. A pause not before new offensives by the occupiers but before their retreat from our native Ukrainian land. And I am grateful to all our fighters who ensure the approach of this time.

This is just as inevitable, like retribution for the occupiers. But we must hold on, we must fight together now — on all fronts: political, informational, economic, showing no weakness anywhere. In this war, we can only stand united — absolutely everyone, every Ukrainian.

Glory to all who defend our native state!

Glory to Ukraine!"