A shocking video has revealed the moment President Volodymyr Zelensky was discussing the importance of protecting Ukraine’s grain supplies from Russian strikes when an air raid siren blared.
He was speaking alongside the presidents of Switzerland, Lithuania and Latvia when the bombing alarm rang out.
The Ukrainian president stayed behind for a minute to answer a question on the blockade of goods on the EU border before rushing off stage with the other three leaders.
All of the conference participants went to a bomb shelter to wait out the Russian raid.
The press conference was organised for the Grain from Ukraine summit, which was attended by senior officials from European countries.
It took place the morning after Russia had attacked Kyiv with 75 drones overnight, the biggest drone assault of the war so far.
During the press conference, President Zelensky demanded more air defences to protect its grain export routes as well as regions bordering Russia.
President Zelensky told the reporters: “There is a deficit of air defence – that is no secret.”
Ukraine, a major exporter of grain, has been exporting grain via unilateral corridors through the Black Sea since Russia withdrew in July from a UN-brokered deal to allow grain ships through its blockade.
The night before, during the large-scale drone assault, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs posted a photo of him spending the night taking refuge in a bunker.
Russian kamikaze drones were heard circling Kyiv early Saturday morning for over six hours.
In response to yesterday’s drone assault, Ukraine targeted Moscow, among other Russian cities, with its own drone attack.
Russia claimed at least 20 drones were shot down as they made their way to Moscow.
Flights were delayed or cancelled at Moscow’s main airports due to the incursion.
