Putin 'celebrates 1945 victory while attacking Kyiv': Zelensky adviser Podolyak

In an interview with FRANCE 24, a top adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin's Victory Day speech in Moscow on Tuesday, saying Putin celebrated the 1945 victory against the Nazis even while "attacking Kyiv", referring to a barrage of cruise missiles lobbed at the Ukrainian capital overnight. Mykhailo Podolyak went on to say that any Ukrainian counter-offensive would include attempts to retake Crimea and the occupied territories of the Donbas region.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, spoke to FRANCE 24 from the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, which was once again hit by Russian missiles overnight.

"Russian politicians are celebrating the victory in 1945 on Red Square and yet they're still attacking Kyiv, a peaceful city," Podolyak said. "Russia is waging war against a civilian population."

Counter-offensive will include 'liberation of Crimea and parts of Donbas'

Ukrainian authorities have been saying since early spring that a counter-offensive is imminent. "To avoid having Russia rearming, regrouping and remobilising its troops, we need to keep pushing forward so we can bring this war to an end as soon as possible," Podolyak said, adding that "a protracted war will only benefit Russia".

Podolyak believes that an effective counter-offensive would force the Russians to abandon their positions and hopefully bring about "some level of political change in Russia".

Read more on FRANCE 24 English

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