UKRAINE: In a video message delivered by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday (2 March), seven days since Russia’s invasion began, the Ukrainian leader says Russia aims to erase Ukraine, its history and its people.

On Tuesday, the Russian military switched to launching strikes on Ukrainian cities and appeared ready to advance on Kyiv. Describing the severe impact of these strikes, particularly on those aimed near the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial (which remembers the 100,000 people killed by Nazis at this site), Zelenskyy said, “It is beyond humanity. This rocket strike proves that for many people in Russia our Kyiv is absolutely foreign. They don't know a thing about our capital, about our history. But they all have orders to erase our history, erase our country, erase us all.”

He continued, “Who are they to make such place a target for rocket strikes? You killed Holocaust victims for the second time.”

Meanwhile, the West continues to tighten an economic noose around Russia through numerous sanctions in retaliation to the invasion. However, Zelenskyy, appearing haggard and unshaven, has said that the West's response was not enough, and called for more international support, including backing on Ukraine's bid to join the European Union (EU).

"No one can remain neutral now," said Zelenskyy, whose defiant and emotional tone during his regular video addresses have offered his country support and leadership in the war, which he said has so far killed nearly 6,000 Russian troops.

The south-eastern Azov Sea port of Mariupol in Ukraine has been facing constant shelling since the beginning of Russia’s attack. Local authorities reported on Wednesday that many are unable to evacuate the injured in this area, while Kherson, on the Black Sea to the west, is completely surrounded by invading Russian forces.