Ukraine to fight for all cities currently under enemy control

He said this in an interview with India’s Republic Media Network, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"In any case, we will fight for all these cities. Today, Odesa is completely Ukrainian, it’s not occupied. The most difficult situation is in Mariupol. But we will fight for all our cities until we restore our territorial integrity... We are ready to say today that the Russians must withdraw to the borders from which they began their full-scale invasion on February 24. This status quo that we’re seeing today, the occupied cities – we won’t abandon them to the Russian Federation," the president stressed.

He recalled that the most difficult situation today is in the south and east of the country. In the south of Ukraine, where the invaders have moved in, the enemies have been killing local officials, while the locals categorically oppose any other officials being imposed on them by the Russians.

"We have already lost many mayors: they are being abducted, tortured, and killed. And these are the people who are elected by people, not appointed by President. That’s why the people are reacting this way, defending their officials, because they elected them, while the Russian forces are trying to plant their people there," he said.

On February 24, the Russian Federation launched a new phase of its war against Ukraine. The invaders have been shelling and bombing peaceful towns and villages in Ukraine, torturing and killing civilians.

According to the latest information, as of March 31, a total of 24 local government officials and civil servants were in Russian captivity.