How Ukranians Are Fighting Russia As Zelensky Refuses US Evacuation Offer, Stands With His People

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky chose to turn down evacuation offer from the US and stand with his people who are fighting Russia.

According to the Ukraine embassy in Britain, Zelensky told the US that the fight is in Ukraine, and that he needs ammunition, "not a ride." The embassy shared this on Twitter Saturday and said that "Ukrainians are proud of their President."

CNN reported that in a video, titled "do not believe the fakes," that was posted Saturday morning, the President revealed that he is still in Kyiv, capital of Ukraine. He said that his people are not putting down arms, and they will be defending their country. He shared that "our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children, and we will defend all of this."

To defend their nation, Kyiv civilians have taken up arms and mixed Molotov cocktails to fight Russia, reported Los Angeles Times. One of the civilians who has joined the fight is 24-year-old Olga. The project manager at a graphics firm was a part of a five-person Molotov cocktail assembly team.

She and another woman crushed Styrofoam while a man and woman next to them poured oil and fuel into a funnel, oozing the mix into bottles. Olga said that she left her old job two weeks ago, and was supposed to start the new one Monday, but she "never imagined I’d be doing this instead." She said that she prefers her new job to "this, but it’s important.”

Like her, there were others too in the same building on a quiet street in Ukraine’s capital. Be it an older couple, or men and boys, civilians have got together to fight invading Russian troops. Some sat near stacks of shiny and black Kalashnikovs and ammunition pouches.

But there are many who have been trying to flee as well. At the railway station in Lviv in Ukraine, hundreds of people tried to get on trains. While people are attempting to put hundreds of miles between themselves and an invading Russia, many said that they don't know where to go next, according to CNN.

Things got complicated by a new Ukrainian martial law that prohibits men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Families that are thinking of crossing Ukraine's border will not only become refugees, but will also be separated from their husbands, sons, brothers and partners. Andrei recently arrived from his native Odessa, Ukraine, and was thinking of a plan to meet his pregnant Belarusian wife in Poland. The 45-year-old said that he needed to go to her, and said that the law "makes no sense."

Meanwhile, peace talks are scheduled for Monday, but Zelensky doesn't seem to have much hopes.