‘In the first hours of a large-scale invasion, and I am here with arms in hand, when all the authorities have fled Kyiv”: Poroshenko on the beginning of the invasion
Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko made a resonant statement in an interview with Pryamyy TV channel that attracted considerable public attention. He said that in the first hours of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he personally took part in the defence of the capital with arms in hand, until, according to him, the country’s leadership left Kyiv.
‘In the first hours of the large-scale invasion, and I am here with arms in hand, when all the authorities fled Kyiv, we formed battalions, and within the 206th battalion we ensured the evacuation of Bucha, Irpin, Hostomel, checkpoints, and, ultimately, the defence of Kyiv from Russian invaders,’ Poroshenko said.
Poroshenko stressed the importance of restoring Ukrainians’ trust in their own state, especially in the fight against corruption. He stressed that such unity and determination as in the first hours of the aggression should serve as an example for further actions in the country.
In addition, the former president expressed his opinion on the Victory Plan of Ukraine, voiced by current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Poroshenko did not call these theses a plan, but noted that it is positive that the president has a clear position on further actions, both in his role as Supreme Commander-in-Chief and in stabilising the situation in the country.
According to Poroshenko, he liked the fact that the plan refers to Ukraine’s accession to NATO, but he would like to see concrete steps in this direction.
