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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
David Kent

Ukraine president tells TDs he is 'grateful for every Irish citizen' in special address to Dail

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked the people in Ireland in a special address to a joint sitting of TDs and Senators.

Many of the TDs and Senators were dressed in blue and yellow colours, to show support for the country.

The Ceann Comhairle welcomed him to the Dail in both English and Ukrainian, before President Zelenskyy confirmed that overnight attacks had continued.

READ MORE: Russian Embassy urges Irish government to intervene as it faces fuel shortage

He said: "Dear people of Ireland. This night, our territory was again hit by Russian missiles. It was done cunningly and hit civilian infrastructure. A fuel storage depot was hit and this is their attribute. They are destroying things that are sustaining livelihoods to people.

"They have locked all of our sea ports. Why are they doing this? For them, hunger is also a weapon against us ordinary people, as an instrument of domination."

President Zelenskyy noted that they still don't know the damage in Mariupol.

"Half a million of Mariupol was put under siege and they are blocking access. They are not allowing anything to come through. While it was snowing, people could melt it to get water, they can't even have that. They are bombing 24/7. There is no house left intact. None. The dead and killed, in many cases, were left lying in the streets, in the buildings, in the basements. We don't know how many people in Mariupol have been killed.

"In the 42 days, at least 167 children were killed in Ukraine. We don't know the atrocities of Mariupol or other areas where the fighting is still going on.

"The fact is, as a result of Russian shelling, 927 educational institutions were damaged. 258 hospitals, they even shot at 78 ambulances. They were targeting churches and shelters where they knew for sure there was no one but woman and children inside. That is a fact."

President Zelenskyy then addressed the people of Ireland, saying : "People of Ireland, since the very first days you are supporting Ukraine. This is a fact. You did not doubt starting helping us, and although you are a neutral country, you have not remained neutral to the disaster and mishaps that Russia has brought to Ukraine. I am grateful to you, to every citizen of Ireland.

"Thank you for supporting sanctions, for the humanitarian support to our country and thank you for your caring about Ukrainian people who have found shelter on your land.

"It is the people of Ireland, where their principal approach has turned a new page in the Ukraine-Ireland relationship. Our mutual respect is at a level where it becomes only a question of time for us to live in a common European home.

"Let's show that Ukraine and Ireland, jointly, can do much more than the biggest country of the world which is trying to destroy. I am grateful to Ireland."

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