The Ukrainian health minister stated that 198 people had been killed so far, and more than 1,000 others were seriously wounded in the Russian invasion. Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said on Saturday that, “There were three children among those killed.”
His statement has not made it clear whether the casualties included both military and civilians. He said another 1,115 people, including 33 children, were wounded in the Russian invasion that began Thursday. His statement came even as fighting continued in the streets of Kyiv on Saturday. As per the city’s mayor, at least 35 people, including two children, were injured in overnight shelling and fighting in the city.
As invading Russian forces invaded towards Ukraine’s capital on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to dispel rumours that he had called upon the army to lay down arms. “This is our land, our country, our children. And we will defend all of that,” he said in a short video.
Meanwhile, Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops. A defeat the United States and its supporters knew was inevitable but would highlight Russia’s global isolation.
The vote on Friday was 11 in favour, with Russia voting no and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. According to several reports, an Air India evacuation flight carrying Indians in Ukraine has taken off from Romania and will arrive in Mumbai at 4 pm. Air India will operate more flights on Saturday to Bucharest and Hungarian capital Budapest to evacuate Indians stranded in Ukraine.