Rachel Lang
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a special message to Australia and its people from inside his top-secret bunker in his war-ravaged nation.
The Ukrainian President was interviewed on 60 Minutes and Zelenskyy graciously invited the team into 'his secret inner sanctum to explain the horror show' that is the Russian invasion.
A very stoic Zelenskyy also took the chance to deliver a heartfelt thanks to the support received from Down Under.
"I have to be very thankful to Australian people," Zelenskyy said. "You helped us already and it’s true but we need more, it’s also true.
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"I’m sorry. I’m president of war country, country at war.
"With such friends like you, such respect friends, maybe my English is not good, I’m sorry dear Australian people I’m very sorry, but I think you understand my feelings, that is main thing.
"Ukraine will always remember. It will be written in our historical books about your help, thanks a lot."
Since the Russian invasion on February 24, Zelenskyy refused to leave his compound in Kyiv as Russian assassination squads attempted to storm the building.
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He refused to leave his city - or his country - while it was under attack.
“Our military are here, our citizens and society are here," he said in a social media video on on February 25.
"We are all here defending our independence, our state, and this is how it's going to be.
"Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the heroes."
Since late February, Ukraine has experienced atrocities that have angered both Zelenskyy and the rest of the world.
One of the most notable acts of Russian barbarity was what soldiers left behind in Bucha, a town 45 minutes from the capital where Russian forces butchered civilians and left them in mass graves.
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In the 60 Minutes report, journalist Tom Steinfort asked Zelenskyy about his thoughts on Russian war crimes against the Ukrainian people.
"What you saw in Bucha clearly cut you to your core. Do you have any doubt that Russian forces, at the command of President Putin, are committing war crimes against your people?" Steinfort asked.
Zelenskyy responded: "Well, I felt pain. I felt, uh, an anger. I felt, a desire for revenge. And then after that came a lack of understanding, how could you do something to people, to humanity? How could you torture that many people?
"Look I’m not afraid to show some sort of weakness. You can lose your humanity and I want not to lose it.
"Getting used to a war, it’s the worst possible habit."
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According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on April 29, there were 6,134 civilian casualties in the Ukraine: 2,899 killed and 3,235 injured.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.