President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday compared the "total destruction" of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to the 1945 devastation of Hiroshima, now hosting the G7 summit, after it was hit by a US atomic bomb.
Bakhmut, which had a pre-war population of 70,000 people, has been the scene of the longest and bloodiest battle in Russia's invasion.
Occasional footage from Bakhmut during months of heavy fighting have shown a city of ruins.
"The photos of Hiroshima remind me of Bakhmut. There is absolutely nothing alive. All the buildings are destroyed," President Zelensky said.
"Absolute total destruction. There is nothing. There are no people."
President Zelensky said that Japan rebuilding of Hiroshima inspired him to rebuild Ukrainian cities and towns destroyed in the invasion.
"Now, Hiroshima is rebuilt," he said.
"We dream of rebuilding all our cities that are now in ruins and every village where not a single house is left after Russian strikes."
Volodymyr Zelensky spoke a day after Russia claimed to have fully taken control of Bakhmut.
Without giving a clear answer, President Zelensky said Russian troops were in Bakhmut but insisted it was "not occupied".
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Preparations For 'Bahuda Yatra' Of Lord Jagannath Underway
US Urges India To "Utilize" Ties With Russia, Tell Putin To End Ukraine War Russia Should Attend Second Ukraine Summit, Says Zelensky Amid Raging War Russian, US Defence Chiefs Discuss Lowering Escalation Over Phone Call Under-Fire Trainee IAS Officer Accuses Pune Collector Of Harassment Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Recalled To Academy, Training Put On Hold What Trump Rally Shooter Did On Last Day Of His Life IMF Raises India's GDP Growth Forecast To 7% For 2024-25 Goa's Law And Order Deteriorating, Cops Visit Casinos: Opposition Leader This Bengaluru Bar Was Just Named The Best Bar In India For 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.