Presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky explained why he called the occupants in Donbas "the rebels" during the presidential debates at NSC Olimpiysky. Zelensky commented to the question of the Radio Svoboda before voting in the second round of presidential elections.
“It means rioters, girls, and boys. It was written on the website of the President of Ukraine. Rioters who are against Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Let us recall that during the debates at NSC Olimpiysky Zelesnky while reading the questions from Facebook users used the world ‘rebels’ referring to the militants on the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk. Afterward, the wave of condemnations began, including from President Petro Poroshenko.
Besides, the similar expression the President used himself during delivering one of his speeches in January 2015. The Administration of the President changed the expression ‘rebels’ into ‘occupants’.
The occupants are supported by Russia. This has begun since the annexation of Crimea and formation of the illegal forces on the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk and Donetsk.
Earlier, the turnout of voters in the second round of the elections of the president of Ukraine is 17.96% as of 11:00 AM, according to the data of the 191 constituencies out of 199 around the country.