Ukraine lost many pilots in defense of Mariupol — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a very large number of Ukrainian pilots were killed trying to defend Mariupol against Russian forces and bring some help to Ukrainian soldiers who were encircled.

Speaking on a national telethon, Zelenskyy referenced the high death toll that Ukrainian forces faced in the battered port city of Mariupol.

“A very large number of people, our pilots, died, unfortunately,” he said. “Absolutely heroic people who knew that it was difficult, that it was almost impossible to fly. Fly to Azovstal, bring medicine, food, and water, and pick up the bodies of the wounded. All this happened.”

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