Zelensky vows Russia will face “legal consequences” for operations in Ukraine

During his video speech posted on the evening of February 18th, Zelensky said Kiev had “received strong signals from our partners and concrete agreements on the inevitability of holding Russia responsible for aggression and terror against Ukraine and its people”.

He said this would be done not only for the evil Russia has brought since February 24th, but also for since 2014”, referring to Moscow's invasion of the Ukraine Crime region and promoting a separatist war in parts of eastern Ukraine.

On February 19th, the Ukrainian Army said Russia continues to conduct offensive operations in several areas of Harkiwi, Donjeck and Luhansk. In addition, Russia carried out air attacks against civilian infrastructure in Hmelnytcky, Dnepropetrovsk, Donjeck and Herson regions, including more than 50 attacks by multiple rocket launchers. The threat of missile attacks across Ukraine remained high, the Ukrainian Army's statement said.

Zelensky's statements came the same day US Vice President Kamala Harris said at the Munich Security Conference that “The US has officially determined that Russia committed crimes against humanity” in Ukraine.

She also said the US will support Ukraine “as long as it needs”.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, completes a year next week. / REL/