Ukrainian Troops Repel Russia From Kyiv And Chernihiv, President Zelensky Fires Two Security Officials

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the situation in the south and the Donbas region remained difficult, reiterating Russia was building up troops near the besieged city of Mariupol on Thursday.

On a rare occasion, President Zelensky in a video speech also revealed he had fired two senior members of the national security service, citing treason.

Zelenskiy, who often uses colorful imagery, says that the Russians are so evil and so eager to destroy that they seem to come from another world, "monsters that burn and plunder, that attack and are determined to kill".

Citing Reuters April 1, President Zelensky also said Ukrainian troops had driven Russia back from Kyiv and Chernihiv, two cities Moscow had announced would no longer be the focus of attacks, as they sought to secure the separatist regions of Donbas and Lugansk in the southeast.

"There will be battles ahead. We still have a very difficult road to go to get everything we want. The situation in the south and in the Donbas remains very difficult."

The two top national security officials he sacked were the head of internal security, as well as a head of the agency's branch in the Kherson region.

"I don't have time to deal with all the traitors, but they will all be punished gradually," he said, adding that both men had betrayed their oath to defend Ukraine. He did not provide specific details.

To note, this event marked the first time Zelenskiy announced the dismissal of those involved in the defense of Ukraine.