President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on residents of the temporarily occupied territories not to cooperate with the occupiers, which will allow them to return to normal life faster.

"In the south of our country, the invaders are trying to demonstrate at least something that can be presented in Russia as the readiness of Ukrainians to cooperate with Russian structures," he said in a video message on Tuesday evening.

"It looks pathetic. After 55 days of war, the occupiers managed to drag over to their side only some of the outcasts. The situation is quite understandable - Ukrainians in all regions of our state support Ukrainian national unity. They support our national statehood," Zelensky said, stressing that "I am grateful to all residents of the temporarily occupied cities, temporarily occupied communities – Kherson, Kakhovka, Melitopol and all our other communities – for this clear position."

"No cooperation with the occupiers! No support for collaborators! The more principled we are, the more principled you are, the sooner normal life will return," he said.