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Mark Loughran, President and Deputy CEO of inDrive, a fast-growing ride-hailing and urban mobility platform with a unique peer-to-peer pricing model, is driving the company’s mission to challenge injustice and empower communities through fair and transparent services. In a conversation with ApEx, he discusses inDrive’s expansion into Nepal, the company’s distinctive approach to mobility, and its long-term vision for empowering riders and drivers alike.

What is inDrive, and how did this concept arise?

inDrive is a global urban mobility service committed to challenging injustice and creating positive social impact. With a presence in 48 countries and 888 cities, inDrive has completed over 6bn rides since its inception. The idea for inDrive emerged during a harsh Siberian winter around New Year’s Eve. As temperatures plummeted, local taxi companies drastically increased their fares—some by two or three times the usual rate. This sudden surge left many residents stranded, unable to afford transportation to visit friends, family, or get to work. 

In response, people began reaching out to one another directly, arranging rides amongst themselves. A simple concept was born: peer-to-peer ride-sharing based on mutual agreement and fair pricing. What began as a community-driven solution quickly grew in popularity, spreading from a few individuals to thousands across the region. Seeing this grassroots movement, Arsen Tomsky, the visionary founder and CEO of inDrive, transformed this idea into a digital platform. His goal was simple yet profound: to create a service where people, not algorithms or monopolistic pricing models, decide the cost of their rides.

Today, inDrive continues its mission to fight against inequality in urban mobility, empowering both passengers and drivers with the freedom to negotiate fair fares and access safe, reliable transportation. From its humble beginnings in one of the coldest cities on earth, inDrive now serves millions of people worldwide, standing as a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and social justice.

What makes inDrive unique and what is its mission?

At the heart of inDrive’s mission lies a commitment to combating injustice and promoting freedom. Unlike other ride-hailing platforms, inDrive empowers both passengers and drivers with genuine choice and transparency, key elements that set us apart from the competition. One of the most distinctive features of inDrive is the freedom to negotiate fares. When you open the app, you don’t just see a fixed price—you see a recommended price, and then you decide what you want to pay. That’s right, you can enter the fare that you think is fair, and it doesn’t stop there. On the driver’s side, they don’t just get a ride request with a vague destination and a hidden fare; they see exactly where you are, where you want to go, and the fare you’ve suggested. This level of transparency is rare. On many competitor platforms, drivers often have no visibility into the fare or even the destination before accepting the ride. They are forced to accept the next ride blindly, with little room for choice or negotiation. 

At inDrive, however, drivers can see multiple passenger bids, giving them the freedom to select the best option for their time and route preferences. From the passenger’s perspective, the benefits are just as clear. You don’t just pick the next available car—you get to see multiple driver offers, complete with driver ratings, vehicle details, and proposed fares. This means you have the power to choose a driver based on what matters most to you—whether it’s the quickest arrival time, the lowest fare, or the highest-rated driver. We’ve noticed that some passengers are happy to wait a little longer for a cheaper ride, while others prioritize speed. That’s the beauty of freedom of choice, and it’s entirely in your hands. 

Another critical difference is our platform commission rate. inDrive charges just 10 percent, allowing drivers to keep 90 percent of their earnings. Not only does this enable drivers to earn more fairly, but it also contributes to lower ride costs for passengers. To add to this, passengers pay drivers directly upon completion of the ride—no waiting periods or hidden deductions. In contrast, many global competitors take 20 percent, 30 percent, or even more in commissions, impacting both driver earnings and passenger costs. In summary, inDrive is driven by three core principles: fair pricing, freedom of choice, and fair earnings for drivers. We believe that mobility should be just, transparent, and empowering for everyone involved.

Since inDrive is built on a people-centric and community-based approach, how do you ensure that this philosophy resonates effectively with local markets, particularly in a country like Nepal?

inDrive’s community-focused and people-centric approach is a core part of its identity. But instead of simply ‘making sure’ it resonates with local markets like Nepal, it’s more about how we operate and uphold those values consistently. Our growth and market leadership in Nepal speak volumes—being the number one ride-hailing service with a significant market share reflects that people recognize and appreciate our unique model. 

The key differentiator is not just about competitive pricing and freedom of choice for passengers. It’s also about fairness and economic impact. Drivers with inDrive keep 90 percent of their earnings, which directly contributes back to Nepal’s economy. Unlike competitors that take 20-30 percent of driver income, effectively removing that capital from the local community, inDrive’s model ensures that money stays and circulates within Nepal. This creates a ripple effect of positive economic contribution, empowering local drivers and enhancing community growth. Looking forward, we hope more passengers understand that choosing inDrive is not only about convenience but also about supporting local communities and contributing to a fairer economic ecosystem. It’s about fairness, empowerment, and real impact.

Could you please share the primary goals of inDrive in Nepal? Additionally, what new initiatives or launches can we expect from inDrive in the next five years?

Currently, there is nothing specific to announce, but to provide a broader perspective, let’s look at what inDrive has been doing in other countries. At the moment, inDrive operates in just three cities in Nepal. However, there is a clear demand for improved mobility services in other cities as well. One of the first major steps you can expect is inDrive’s expansion to more cities across Nepal. As seen in other markets, after expanding to additional cities, inDrive often introduces intercity rides, linking these cities to facilitate longer-distance travel. This service is particularly advantageous for negotiations, where both drivers and passengers benefit from fair and transparent fare discussions for long-distance trips. Looking beyond just city expansions, inDrive is likely to explore broader delivery services in Nepal. This is a strategy they’ve successfully implemented in other countries, and it aligns with their goal of enhancing accessibility and convenience for users.

Moreover, inDrive has been pioneering financial services for drivers in select markets. Starting in Mexico and now available in five countries, this initiative addresses a major challenge for drivers: access to fair credit. Many drivers struggle with credit ratings, making it hard for them to secure loans. inDrive has innovated by using drivers’ riding and driving history to collaborate with credit rating agencies and lending institutions, allowing drivers to borrow money at fair rates. Repayments are structured to be manageable, deducted gradually from their earnings. This service has been instrumental for drivers facing emergencies like car repairs, medical expenses, or even educational costs for their children—key reasons drivers seek financial support. While this service is yet to reach Indonesia, the plan is to expand it further, and it’s highly possible Nepal could be a part of that future vision. Expanding mobility, delivery services, and financial support would not only elevate inDrive’s presence in Nepal but also contribute to economic opportunities for drivers and enhanced services for passengers.

As sustainability becomes an increasingly crucial aspect of the transportation industry, what is inDrive doing to incorporate sustainable practices into its operations?

First and foremost, the foundation of inDrive’s service model is built around the concept of resource sharing through ride-hailing and ride-sharing. By promoting shared rides, we contribute to a reduction in the number of cars on the road, which in turn helps to decrease emissions and lessen environmental impact. Personally, in the last country I lived in, I didn’t own a car and relied solely on ride-hailing services. This demonstrates that ride-sharing platforms can effectively support sustainable urban mobility by optimizing vehicle use and minimizing unnecessary congestion. 

Additionally, as electric vehicles (EVs) become more accessible—not just in terms of purchase but also in terms of operation, with the development of necessary charging networks-our commitment to sustainability strengthens. In line with this, last year we launched a Comfort Class that includes EVs. As the EV infrastructure continues to grow and the number of EVs on the roads increases, we plan to introduce a dedicated class exclusively for electric vehicles, actively encouraging their use among both drivers and passengers. These initiatives reflect inDrive’s broader vision to contribute positively to environmental sustainability by embracing modern, eco-friendly transportation solutions.

Can you share some impactful and CSR projects that inDrive has been doing in Nepal?

At inDrive, our commitment goes beyond redefining mobility; it’s about redefining the very principles of business to create a lasting, positive impact in the communities where we operate. Our business model is deeply rooted in challenging injustice and promoting fairness—not just for our passengers and drivers but for society as a whole. This commitment is embedded in our belief that businesses should not only focus on financial strength and value for investors but also actively contribute to the well-being and development of communities. We call this approach ‘reinventing capitalism’, where growth and profitability go hand in hand with community empowerment and social responsibility.

Globally, inDrive’s impact initiatives are led by our dedicated inVision team. This team spearheads projects across four core areas: education, sports, arts, and technology. Through various programs, we are empowering individuals and communities by providing them with resources and opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. One standout initiative is the ‘Free for Use University’ launched in Kazakhstan, one of the first countries where inDrive expanded. This groundbreaking program provides a full university education for children from deprived areas who would not have had the opportunity to pursue higher education. The curriculum not only covers academic subjects but also includes entrepreneurialism, community support, and social impact training. By investing in education, we aim to create future leaders who can drive positive change in their communities. 

Our commitment to sports is another pillar of our global impact. We recognize that sports instill discipline, teamwork, and confidence in young people, contributing to better educational outcomes and healthier lifestyles. Around the world, we support sporting events and facilities, understanding that these investments shape stronger, more resilient communities.

Here in Nepal, inDrive’s commitment to community impact is evident through several key projects. We began with vital support for disaster relief, aiding in rebuilding homes and assisting families affected by natural disasters. Recognizing the need for sustainable community support, we are now on the verge of launching the ‘Ride to Donate’ program. This initiative will channel a portion of the fare from every third ride into a fund dedicated to enhancing sporting facilities in schools across Kathmandu. We believe that investing in sports for children not only improves health and education outcomes but also builds community spirit and opportunity. inDrive is also a proud supporter of the Kathmandu Marathon, an event that brings together athletes, communities, and our own driver partners. Beyond just sponsorship, we encourage our drivers and their children to participate, promoting health, well-being, and community engagement.

Technology and entrepreneurship are key to Nepal’s development, and inDrive is proud to sponsor the ICT Awards, which recognize innovation and excellence in the tech sector. For the past two years, we have supported this event, which typically takes place in December. We also encourage female entrepreneurs to participate in the global ‘Aurora Tech Awards’, a program that supports and mentors women in technology. Our goal is to see more Nepalese representation in these global programs, offering them a platform to shine on the world stage.

Art has the power to inspire, challenge, and drive change. Our ‘Alternativa’ program supports filmmakers and artists, providing them with mentorship and a platform to share their stories globally. A powerful example is the Nepali film ‘Devi’, which was a finalist in the program. This impactful film has not only sparked important conversations in Nepal but is also being showcased internationally to influence policymakers. Choosing inDrive is about more than just good service and fair pricing; it's about supporting a company that reinvests in local communities. The majority of our profits stay with drivers and within the Nepalese economy, directly benefiting local families and businesses. 

Additionally, through our community programs and impactful projects, we bring our skills, resources, and commitment to tackling real social challenges, contributing to lasting positive change. We are dedicated to continuing our journey of impactful projects in Nepal, expanding our programs, and reaching more communities in need. At inDrive, we believe that business success should always be measured not just by profit but by the positive impact we create in the communities we serve.

So, does inDrive have any partnerships with local insurance companies in Nepal to provide coverage?

Yes, inDrive is proud to partner with Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Limited, a well-known local insurance company in Nepal. This collaboration allows us to provide essential insurance coverage for our drivers and passengers, ensuring their safety and security while on the road. It’s a significant step in reinforcing our commitment to driver and passenger welfare, and we’re thrilled to have this arrangement in place. Having local support from Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance adds an extra layer of reliability and trust for our driver partners and our valuable passengers.

We have discussed how inDrive is empowering drivers globally and enhancing its reputation as a reliable ride-hailing app. How does inDrive plan to specifically empower local drivers in Nepal? What kind of support can they expect from the company?

The very first and arguably most impactful way we empower our drivers is by ensuring that 90 percent of the fare goes directly to them. Unlike many platforms, we prioritize putting the majority of the earnings into the hands of those who are on the road. Drivers receive their earnings instantly, providing immediate access to their hard-earned money. If you haven’t experienced this firsthand, I highly encourage you to spend some time with our team and local drivers-ask questions, understand their motivations, and hear their personal stories. You'll find that each driver has a unique journey, and many rely on this income to support their families and pursue their aspirations. 

The second way we support drivers is by fostering consistent demand for rides. Our platform is growing rapidly in Nepal, which translates to more ride requests and more earning opportunities for drivers. For many, driving with inDrive represents a pathway to a sustainable income, sometimes transitioning from unemployment to earning a reliable livelihood. 

Thirdly, we focus heavily on training and development. We recognize that quality service and safety are paramount—not just for passengers but for drivers too. Our training sessions cover areas like safety protocols, customer service, and effective time management. We also go beyond traditional training by addressing mental health, recognizing that long hours on the road can be both mentally and physically demanding. In fact, we’ve introduced in-person mental health sessions to help drivers manage stress and maintain well-being during their long shifts. Driving for eight to ten hours a day is not an easy task. The pressures of traffic, passenger demands, and maintaining concentration are real challenges. Having driven myself, though only for shorter periods, I understand how intense it can be, especially during peak hours when everyone is rushing to their destinations. Our aim is to ease this burden with continuous support, better infrastructure, and a sense of community. 

Finally, as we continue to grow in Nepal, we are committed to bringing more services and investments into the community. These initiatives are designed to not only enhance the experience for our drivers but also to contribute positively to the local economy.

General Secretary of the Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa, recently made a statement suggesting that youths in Nepal can earn Rs 200,000 to 300,000 per month by working remotely in the IT sector. While his comment drew massive criticisms online, it’s worth noting that his statements were neither entirely baseless nor entirely practical in Nepal’s current context. 

In this article, we’ll break down how Nepali youth currently stand in the IT industry, the actual potential of remote work, the skills and experience required to achieve such income levels, challenges they face, and the reforms that are needed to make such aspirations more realistic.

Former education minister, Sumana Shrestha, also shared her thoughts with more logical commentary in a recent interview. She has been an advocate of this industry even before she became a minister. While Thapa’s insights were pragmatic about global trends, the dreams he portrayed to the youths of Nepal seemed overambitious. Given Nepal’s current infrastructure and education system in the IT sector, it’s early to forecast that youths have a genuine platform for such income sources. The current infrastructure and scenario in Nepal are hardly laying  any foundations to withhold Thapa’s expectation.If government were to make a concrete plan to promote IT industry in Nepal, allocating budgets, investing in training and education, Thapa’s statement would have made more sense

The path to Rs 200,000-300,000

For an IT enthusiast in Nepal to earn Rs 200,000–300,000 per month, the journey starts with the smallest of steps. There are certainly individuals earning that amount or more, but their journeys are filled with years of learning, internships, low-paying jobs, and freelancing work. 

To earn that income remotely, a person typically needs a solid portfolio, technical expertise, and work experience. This usually starts with internships in local IT companies. Once the internship period is over, they begin with the smallest amount of salaries, which is somewhere between Rs 17,000 and 35,000 per month.

The challenging part for businesses and employees is the reliance on international clients. Most IT firms in Nepal rely on international clients, particularly those seeking low-cost outsourcing. While this creates opportunities, it also means job security is fragile. Many IT professionals frequently rotate  between companies due to job dissatisfaction, payment delays, and limited growth opportunities. As a result, the companies in Nepal are sourced by middlemen, sometimes even taking commissions up to 60 percent. 

After gaining some experience, many attempt to go freelance. But even here, earning over Rs 100,000 per month is rare, especially without a strong international client base or specialization in high-demand skills like AI, blockchain, or cybersecurity. Gaining these skills while remaining in Nepal is challenging. Even self-learning has not been encouraging as the Nepal government has made no such attempts to incorporate these technologies into the system.

Therefore, earning Rs 200,000–300,000 through freelance IT jobs with over reliance on international clients seems ahead of time for Nepali IT professionals. Even with a rich portfolio and strong skill set, breaking past the Rs 300,000 earning threshold as a freelancer is far from common.

Barriers to digital income: Payments, policies and platforms

Nepali freelancers and digital entrepreneurs face another critical challenge: an unregulated and restricted payment ecosystem. Platforms like PayPal are not fully functional in Nepal, limiting access to smooth global transactions and delaying payments. Receiving as well making payments is challenging despite the dollar card service as there are transactional limitations.

Not just for IT professionals, the payment policies and platforms have been bothering various business owners and digital users. It keeps the international brands from trusting the Nepali professionals given the difficult scenario for platforms. Amrit Thapa, founder and content creator at Misguided Nepal, noted that if platforms like Facebook allowed monetization in Nepal, independent content creators could make a comfortable living without having to diversify their portfolio and seek professional jobs, potentially growing the income by fivefold or even more.

Education: The foundation is weak

Perhaps the biggest hurdle lies in Nepal’s education system, especially in the IT field. IT graduates often leave university with minimal practical exposure and outdated syllabus that don’t match global demand. As a result, many choose to self-learn through YouTube, online courses, or bootcamps.

It leaves youth to cope up with the fierce competitions with professionals from countries like India, Philippines or Ukraine. However, most of the IT professionals learn through internships or on-the-job training.Youths and  even teenagers are interested in this sector, as news of Nepalis being rewarded for identifying bugs in the security systems of platforms like Google, Open AI Facebook etc. are shared online.It proves the immense possibility that Nepali minds hold in this sector.But the earnings are not justifying and valuing their effort and time inside the country.

Yes, it’s possible—but it’s not simple

The dream of earning Rs 200,000–300,000 remotely in IT is not entirely impossible. But it’s not an overnight success story, and it’s certainly not accessible to everyone without effort, infrastructure, and support.

There are inspiring examples of Nepali youths earning more than $2,000/month as freelancers or remote employees. But they often come from urban centers with stable internet, mentorship access, and years of trial and error.

If Nepal truly wants to tap into the digital goldmine, reforms are needed from the national to local level. Right type of investment and transparent advocacy is necessary from the representatives and the business owners. Modernizing IT education with updated curriculum, digital infrastructure expansion and legalization of global payment gateways can be undertaken. Also, the tax incentives for tech startups should not be overlooked.

Dhiraj Thapa

BBA Graduate, Pokhara University

The current education model prioritizes rote learning, academic performance, and passing rates, thereby overlooking the wellbeing and needs of the students. There are many educational flaws that are being worked on, but some key points are not being prioritized.

Schools today no longer serve as spaces for learning, recreation, and social growth. Instead, they have become institutions that mold young minds into rigid expectations. This deprives a student’s originality and essence of childhood and true holistic development is often unfulfilled.

The students are burdened with an unnecessary amount of homework. It is even seen as a sign of prestige and effectiveness. It is believed that more a school makes a student busy at home the better it is. Whether it be for the belief that it will make their child more productive or the fact that parents do not have time to deal with their child, parents even ask schools for extra homework. The assignments leave little to no time for children to explore, learn beyond curriculum, play, develop themselves and be a part of the society. The young kids are left with energy drainage and under an overwhelming pressure and fear of ‘homework’ which was supposed to aid learning and holistic performance and a fun overview. 

To ensure the effectiveness of homework, children of grade 3 and below should not be given any homework at all. Grades 4, 5 and 6 should be given less than 30 minutes of homework per day. Grades 7 and 8 should be given less than 60 minutes of homework per day and grades 9 and 10 should be given less than 120 minutes per day; Learning assignments also count as homework. During vacations like Dashain, students are often given more homework, but holidays should be for relaxation, not extra work. It’s a time to connect with traditions, learn about our rituals, and spend time with family, rather than being burdened with assignments.

Many institutions have made morning and evening classes mandatory in addition to the regular day class for grades 8, 9 and 10. A school day ranges from 6 am to 6 pm, and in some cases, as late as 8 pm. On top of it lies homework yet to be done after reaching home. With more than 12 hours dedicated to school followed by assignments and additional tasks, there is no time for relaxation. This causes students to sacrifice their sleep, free time, social life and overall wellbeing. This practice for simple grade levels and young students is simply unnecessary. The topic must be addressed immediately, as it stifles critical thinking and passion for learning. 

According to Nepal Labor Act 2074, No workers shall be employed to work more than eight hours a day and 48 hours a week. There needs to be recognition of learning labor of students. So, regardless of the grades, a school day must be eight hours or less. No student should be obliged to attend morning or evening class. Extra classes must be voluntary, and they should not introduce new syllabus content that compels students to attend.

Some private schools punish and fine students for the sake of speaking their mother tongue (Nepali) and have made it mandatory to speak in English. This is a crime against identity, cultural heritage and language. It develops foreign languages but puts our languages on the verge of extinction and inaccuracy. This links student’s mother tongue with fear and a sense of shame, inferiority, and disrespect. 

According to the 2020 National Assessment of Student Achievement (NASA), only 58 percent of eighth graders achieved basic proficiency in Nepali indicating that over 40 percent lacked adequate skills in their national language. Despite other contributing factors, students should develop proficiency in their mother tongue before focusing on another foreign language. Even the institutions identifying themselves as English medium, students should be allowed to speak their native language without any fear.

In our culture, where intelligence is measured with thickness of books, A heavy backpack is a significant problem. A typical school bag consists of eight subject copies, eight textbooks, a school diary, water bottle, pencil case and even eight additional notebooks for homework.

The heavy bag develops back strain and bad posture from a young age. Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that school backpacks should weigh no more than 10-15 percent of the child’s body weight. Students are encouraged to bring all tools to be “well equipped”. Schools should manage lockers and should not promote the use of unnecessary number of stationary.

The mentioned changes will help the schools be what the students need it as and will help overcome the problems that remain in our education policy.

Uma Regmi

Grade: X

Shree Bal Uddhar Secondary School

Budhanilkantha Municipality-10, Kapan, Kathmandu

Monsoon is not far away with the onset of the pre-monsoon this year.

As many as two million people of 450,000 households are likely to be affected from this year's monsoon.

The forecast has been made in the proposed Monsoon Preparedness and Response National Action Plan, 2082 BS which was prepared by analysing all the related factors based on the data of the Department of Meteorology.

Spokesperson of the National Disaster Risk Response and Management Authority (NDRRMA), Ram Bahadur KC said that the action plan was charted out with estimation that 10 percent of the affected people might require rescue and relief.

"We have estimated that around two million people would be affected in the imminent monsoon. All provinces of the country would be affected so sector-wide responsibilities have been delegated for the preparedness", he informed.

Sharing that the national action plan would be presented in the meeting of the executive committee of the NDRRMA to be held on May 28 under the chair of Home Minister, he said it would come into effect after the endorsement from the meeting.

KC further informed that the proposed action plan has put forth the actions, including monthly monitoring, evaluation and review of the disaster.

Earlier, the weather forecasts were made public in Nepal. According to the forecasts unveiled by the Department of Meteorology, there would be extreme rainfall with lower minimum and higher maximum temperature.

Being based on the forecasts, the NDRRMA has prepared the disaster response national action plan considering recommendations of the stakeholders and organisations.

Three persons died after consuming poisonous mushroom at Mangsebung in Ilam.

The deceased have been identified as Amar Lawati (55), Manisha Limbu (25) and Numa Lawati (17) of Mangsebung Rural Municipality-5.

According to Dr Anupam Ghimire, the information officer at B&C Hospital in Birtamod, they fell ill suddenly after eating curry prepared from mushrooms that had grown in a tea garden six days ago.

Manisha and Numa had already died at the Birat Nursing Hospital in Biratnagar. Amar passed away today at B&C Hospital.

Two persons died when two motorcycles collided with each other at Lalsingh Chowk in Madhuban Municipality-8, Bardiya on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as bike (Bhe 13 Pa 2669) rider Dewananda Yadav (28) of Gulariya Municipality-8 and bike (Bhe 6 Pa 541) rider Tanka Bahadur BC (30) of Lalibazaar, Madhuban Municipality-8. They breathed their last during the course of treatment at the Gulariya Hospital.

DSP Damarpal of the District Police Office, Bardiya said that Anupam Yadav (32) of Gulariya Municipality-2, who was riding pillion in Dewananda’s motorbike, was critically injured in the incident.

DSP Damarpal said that they are looking into the incident.

An Indian tourist, who came to visit Manakamana temple, died after falling in the toilet.

Mannu Prasad Bhatt (62) of Palanpur, Gujarat died after falling in the toilet at the Manakamana cable car station in Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality–4, Chitwan district.

According to Police Inspector Pratik Singh of the Area Police Office in Muglin, Bhatt, who was found unconscious, was brought to the Ichchhakamana Basic Hospital in Kurintar for treatment, where the doctors declared him dead.

The body has been taken to Bharatpur Hospital for postmortem.

Russian aerial attacks on Ukraine have killed at least 13 people and injured 56 civilians across the country since Friday, according to regional officials, BBC reported.

Russia launched 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles against Kyiv alone, Ukraine's air force said, causing fires in residential buildings.

At least 14 people were injured in the capital. It was one of the biggest combined aerial assaults on the city since the war began.

The air force said it had downed six missiles and 245 drones, according to BBC.

"With each such attack, the world becomes more certain that the cause of prolonging the war lies in Moscow," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.