Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appeared in Glastonbury to urge festival-goers to “spread the truth” about the country’s conflict with Russia.
Zelensky made his call in English in a video message recorded to tens of thousands of festival-goers in the south-west of England before the start of a set by The Libertines.
Wearing his military green T-shirt, now branded, he told the Worthy Farm festival that “Russia has stolen our peace.”
“The pandemic has put the lives of millions of people around the world in suspense,” he said.
“In Ukraine we would also like to live life as before and enjoy freedom and this wonderful summer.
“But we can’t do it because the most terrible thing (thing) has happened.”
Zelensky made his call in English in a video message recorded to tens of thousands of festival-goers in the south-west of England before the start of a set by The Libertines.
With his military green T-shirt, which is now a trademark, he told the Worthy Farm festival that “Russia has stolen our peace.”
He said: “The pandemic has put the lives of millions of people around the world in suspense,” he said.
He urged crowds, who returned to the festival for the first time since 2019, to “spread the truth about the Russian war” and help Ukrainian refugees.
Zelensky has made a number of appearances around the world via a video link from Ukraine, including an address to the UK Parliament, the European Parliament and the US Congress.
Zelensky made his video message call just before the start of a set of The Libertines
A festival attendee makes a flare during the Libertines performance on the third day of the Glastonbury Festival
Festival goers in the crowd as Rufus Wainwright plays at the Pyramid Stage during Glastonbury
Music fans gather to the barrier in front of the crowd during a performance by Rufus Wainwright in Glastonbury
An overview of the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Somerset, today
Hundreds of tents are set up at the festival campsite on Friday
He urged crowds, who returned to the festival for the first time since 2019, to “spread the truth about the Russian war” and help Ukrainian refugees.
“Press all the politicians you know to help restore peace in Ukraine. Time is priceless and every day is measured in human lives,” he added.
Zelensky has made a number of appearances around the world via a video link from Ukraine, including an address to the UK Parliament, the European Parliament and the US Congress.
His speech comes on the same day that a Ukrainian official announced that the country’s forces will withdraw from Severodonetsk in the face of a brutal Russian offensive.
The news came shortly after the European Union made a strong show of support for Ukraine, granting candidate status to the former Soviet republic, although there is still a long way to go to accession.
The capture of Severodonetsk has become a key target of the Russians, as they concentrate their offensive in eastern Ukraine after being repelled from Kyiv and other areas after their invasion in February.
Ukrainian military moving to a position in the city of Severodonetsk under heavy bombardment by Russian forces
Lugansk Governor Sergi Gaiday said Ukrainian forces around Severodonetsk have been ordered to withdraw because remaining in positions that have been bombed relentlessly “makes no sense”.
Ukrainian troops mount a tank on a road in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 21, 2022, as Ukraine says Russian bombing has caused “catastrophic destruction” in the eastern industrial city of Lysychansk, which is it is located just across the river from Severodonetsk, where it is Russian. and Ukrainian troops have been locked in battle for weeks
The strategically important industrial core has been the scene of weeks of street fighting while the downtrodden Ukrainians made a fierce defense.
But Sergi Gaiday – governor of Lugansk, which includes the city – said the Ukrainian army should withdraw.
“They have received an order” to withdraw, he told Telegram.
“Staying in positions that have been shelled out non-stop for months doesn’t make sense.”
The city has been “almost turned into rubble” by continuous bombing, he added.
“All critical infrastructure has been destroyed. Ninety percent of the city is damaged, 80 percent (of) the houses will have to be demolished,” he said.
The Ukrainians had already been expelled from much of the city, leaving them in control only of the industrial areas.
The capture of Severodonetsk and its twin city of Lysychansk would give the Russians control of Lugansk and allow them to push further into the wider Donbas.
Gaiday said the Russians were now advancing on Lysychansk, which has faced increasingly intense Russian bombing.
AFP reporters who left the city on Thursday twice had to jump out of cars and lie on the ground while Russian forces bombed its main supply road.
They saw dark smoke rising from the road in front, heard artillery fire and saw flashes of light, while the road was strewn with trees cut down by bombing.
The situation of those who remain in the city is bleak.