Скачать или смотреть Russian airstrikes, attacks on Ukraine intensify; Babi Yar Holocaust memorial damaged | USA TODAY

"This is beyond humanity," Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says in response to Russian airstrikes aimed at a Ukrainian cultural site.

RELATED: Ukrainian refugees search for safety amid Russian invasion https://bit.ly/3hCouNS

Russian military forces escalated attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine's largest cities Wednesday as the nation's leaders pledged to repel the invaders and the citizenry joined the military effort to defend their battered country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a televised address to the nation one week into the hostilities, rallied his people and praised them for their resolve. “During this time, we have truly become one," Zelenskyy said. "We forgave each other. We started loving each other. We help each other. We are worried for each other."

"Kharkiv is holding on and will hold on," Terekhov said on Ukrainian TV. "Today the main goal of our enemy is to sow panic and devastation, but Kharkiv will always stand."

Sixty miles south of Kharkiv, Russian armored vehicles rolled into Balakliya, a town of about 30,000 people. City leaders said they would not cooperate with the occupying forces, the Ukraine government said.

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