ウクライナ大統領夫人、ロシアの侵攻は市民の「大量殺人」

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】ウクライナのウォロディミル・ゼレンスキー大統領の妻オレナ・ゼレンスカ夫人は８日、各国メディア宛ての公開書簡で、ロシアが子どもを含む民間人の「大量殺人」を行っていると強く非難した。（写真はウクライナのウォロディミル・ゼレンスキー大統領の妻、オレナ・ゼレンスカ氏）
　オレナ夫人は、ロシアによる侵攻を知った時、「信じられなかった」と振り返った。「２月２４日、朝目覚めてロシアの侵攻を知った」
　ロシア政府のプロパガンダを流す報道機関は侵攻を「特別軍事作戦」と呼び、市民の安全を保証しているが、実際には「ウクライナ市民の大量殺人だ」と非難した。
　オレナ夫人は、最も恐ろしいのは子どもも犠牲になっていることだとし、名前を挙げながらこう続けた。
　「キエフのポリーナは両親と共に砲撃を受けて死んだ」「８歳のアリスは、祖父が守ろうとしたにもかかわらず、通りで亡くなった」「１４歳のアルセニーはがれきが頭に当たった。激しい銃撃のため救急車が間に合わず助からなかった」
　「ロシアが『民間人に対する戦争ではない』と言うたびに、まず私は殺された子どもたちの名前を叫ぶ」
　さらに夫人は、必要な医療が受けられない状況が続いていると訴えた。
　「地下室でインスリン注射を打ったり、激しい銃撃の中でぜんそくの薬を手に入れたりするのが簡単だとでもいうのだろうか」「化学療法や放射線治療の再開がいつになるか分からないがん患者がたくさんいることは言うまでもない」
　オレナ夫人は、ゼレンスキー氏のコメディー番組制作会社で脚本を書いていた。夫妻の間には２人の子どもがいる。
　ウクライナ大統領府にオレナ夫人がキエフにいるか問い合わせたが、これまでに回答は得られていない。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/03/10-09:44）

The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, on Tuesday condemned the Kremlin's mass murder of civilians, including children, in an open letter to the global media on the Russian invasion.
In a passionate statement, Zelenska said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine was impossible to believe.
On February 24th, we all woke up to the announcement of a Russian invasion, she wrote.
Tanks crossed the Ukrainian border, planes entered our airspace, missile launchers surrounded our cities.
Despite assurances from Kremlin-backed propaganda outlets, who call this a 'special operation' -- it is, in fact, the mass murder of Ukrainian civilians.
She singled out the child casualties as perhaps the most terrifying and devastating, naming several of those killed.
Eight-year-old Alice... died on the streets of Okhtyrka while her grandfather tried to protect her, she said. Polina from Kyiv... died in the shelling with her parents.
She added: 14-year-old Arseniy was hit in the head by wreckage, and could not be saved because an ambulance could not get to him on time because of intense fires.
When Russia says that it is 'not waging war against civilians,' I call out the names of these murdered children first, she said.
- 'Close our sky' -
President Volodymyr Zelensky has been hailed for his wartime speeches, and Zelenska has a background in writing for his comedy production company.
Her message focused on the suffering of the civilian population as millions have fled their homes to escape the Russian military assault.
This war is being waged against the civilian population, and not just through shelling, she stressed.
Our roads are flooded with refugees, she said.
Look into the eyes of these tired women and children who carry with them the pain and heartache of leaving loved ones and life as they knew it behind.
She cited problems getting vital medical treatment.
How easy is it to inject insulin in the basement? Or to get asthma medication under heavy fire? she asked.
Not to mention the thousands of cancer patients whose essential access to chemotherapy and radiation treatment has now been indefinitely delayed.
She called for those in power to close our sky. NATO has ruled out a no-fly zone.
Zelenska, 44, has two children with her husband, a former comedy actor.
She has spearheaded a campaign for better school meals and has accompanied Zelensky on international trips, meeting Prince William and his wife Catherine in Britain in 2020.
The Ukrainian presidency did not immediately respond to a question as to whether Zelenska is now in Kyiv.