KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia on Sunday of committing genocide in Ukraine amid reports that Russian forces were leaving brutalized bodies and widespread destruction in their wake as they withdrew from the Kyiv region.

"Indeed, this is genocide, the elimination of the whole nation and the people," Zelenskyy told "Face the Nation" on Sunday in an exclusive interview.

"We are the citizens of Ukraine and we don't want to be subdued to the policy of the Russian federation, and this is the reason we are being destroyed and exterminated," Zelenskyy said.

"They were trying to take Kyiv and some cities in Kyiv region.

Some of them have been occupied, and then they destroyed everything.

The civilians, the houses, they were stealing washing machines and equipment," the Ukrainian president said.

"We are very grateful for the support of the United States, indeed, and it's a very powerful support, but in terms of security guarantees, we have not received them yet from anyone, and we have to get them," Zelenskyy added. — Agencies