I have instructed the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to step up contacts with our partners on air defense. A meeting is being prepared in the context of Ramstein. There are two main objectives: namely, air defense systems, specifically Patriots, and the second objective is contingents, ensuring the swift alignment of all decisions and working out all details. I have also instructed that we work bilaterally on air defense, especially with the United States, which has sufficient potential to help stop any terror. The appropriate will and the corresponding decisions are needed to protect as many lives as possible from Russian ballistic strikes. The strengthening of our air shield will also reinforce all diplomatic efforts.Today’s Russian attack included missiles launched from the waters of the Black Sea. Our partners know exactly which vessels were involved and from which part of the sea the launch occurred. This is one of the reasons why Russia is distorting diplomacy, why it is refusing to agree to an unconditional ceasefire: they want to preserve their ability to strike our cities and ports from the sea. A ceasefire at sea is not just about free navigation and the export of food products by sea – it is, above all, about overall security and about bringing peace closer. Putin does not want to end the war, he is looking for ways to preserve the option of reigniting it at any moment, with even greater force. That’s exactly why all forms of pressure on Russia must continue: strengthening our ability to defend ourselves, maintaining sanctions, and ensuring that diplomacy – any conversation with Moscow – leaves them no opportunity to kill.
Last night and today, many around the world voiced their position in response to this strike – a clear rejection of Russian terror. To everyone who sees this and does not close their eyes, who speaks the truth clearly and directly – not only we in Ukraine, but the entire world should be grateful. Staying silent about the fact that it is Russia killing children with ballistic missiles is wrong and dangerous. It only emboldens the scum in Moscow to continue the war and keep ignoring diplomacy. Weakness has never ended a war. That’s why I’m thankful to every country whose representatives have spoken out – leaders, foreign ministers, embassies.A Russian ballistic missile – targeting the street of an ordinary city, striking residential buildings – and after that, an additional drone strike. One more person killed, more people wounded. Russia must be held accountable for everything it has done. To end this war, it is necessary to put pressure on them – real pressure – without wasting time on empty talk.
Rescue operations are currently underway in Kryvyi Rih following a Russian missile strike. Preliminary reports suggest it was a ballistic missile. As of now, 16 people are confirmed, including six children. My condolences to their families and loved ones.Many people are injured. Buildings have been damaged. The missile struck an area near residential buildings: hitting a playground and regular streets. They are nothing but inhuman scumbags – everyone who can do such things. There are no decent words to describe these Russian bastards.Also today, in Kharkiv, rescue efforts continued all day after a targeted Russian drone strike. A deliberate attack by six “Shahed” drones. Sadly, 5 people were killed. 34 others were injured. In total, 78 attack drones were launched during the past night alone, 56 of them “Shaheds.” Also today, in Kherson – another targeted strike by a Russian FPV drone hit an energy facility – the Kherson thermal power plant.These strikes cannot be accidental: the Russians know exactly that these are energy facilities and that such facilities should be protected from any attacks under what Russia itself promised to the American side. Every Russian promise ends with missiles or drones, bombs or artillery. Diplomacy means nothing to them. And that’s why pressure is needed – sufficient pressure on Russia so they feel the consequences of every lie of theirs, every strike, every single day they take lives and prolong the war.
Цілеспрямований російський ракетний удар по Кривому Рогу. Всі необхідні служби на місці, усувають наслідки обстрілу та допомагають людям. Є постраждалі. Їм надають медичну допомогу. Станом на зараз відомо, що життя чотирьох людей, на жаль, забрав цей удар. Серед загиблих усі цивільні. Мої співчуття рідним та близьким.Всюди у світі такі удари називають однаково: це терор. Припинити це можна лише достатнім тиском на Москву, на російську систему, щоб вони були змушені відмовитись від війни й терору, і це залежить від партнерів – від Америки, від Європи, від інших у світі. Нас усіх відділяє щонайменше від повного й безумовного припинення ударів лише відсутність згоди Росії припиняти війну. Тільки тиск світу може забезпечити таку згоду. І також усі подібні російські удари доводять, що Україні потрібно достатньо систем і ракет ППО, щоб ми могли захистити всіх людей в Україні від російського терору. Працюємо з усіма партнерами заради цього і дякуємо всім, хто нам допомагає. Всім, хто розуміє, що потрібен тиск на Росію і стабільна підтримка України.
Unfortunately, today has already brought more strikes and shelling. Cherkasy region — attacked by drones. Kherson region — artillery and drone-dropped explosives on ordinary buildings and civilians. Donetsk region — guided aerial bombs, drones, artillery. Zaporizhzhia — drones. Dnipro region — guided bombs and drones. Sumy region — sadly, bombs and drones again. Kharkiv region — guided aerial bomb strikes. The geography and brutality of Russian strikes, not just occasionally, but literally every day and night, show that Putin couldn’t care less about diplomacy. For several weeks now, there has been a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes. Russia deserves increased pressure – all the tough measures that can break its capacity to wage war and sustain the system that wants nothing but war. Sanctions against Russia are essential. More air defense for Ukraine is essential. More cooperation and unity among all partners is essential.
Today I spoke with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi about the situation on the front lines, including areas where our forces are operating on Russian territory. We are maintaining active operations that prevent the occupier from advancing into the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. I am grateful to all our units for their resilience – from the Kursk region to the southern directions. I want to give special recognition today for their frontline effectiveness to our 225th Separate Assault Regiment, as well as the warriors of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Also, to the Special Operations Forces for their highly effective actions in eliminating the enemy. And to the 35th Separate Marine Brigade for their efficiency in battles in the Pokrovsk sector. Thank you all, warriors! You are the real deal! I am grateful to everyone who helps our army, works at all our defense enterprises, and provides for the army. I am grateful to everyone who tells the world the truth about what is happening in Ukraine. Ukraine's strong positions in everything, effective work for our country is what helps bring peace closer the most. Thank you all! Glory to Ukraine!
There was a Staff meeting. A very detailed discussion on the development of drones in Ukraine, contracts, finances, technical issues, and production. Our task is to clearly increase supplies to the army, as well as maximize the technological advantages of our Ukrainian drones. Today, I received reports on the downing of the "Shahed" drones by interceptor drones – I want to thank everyone who is developing this area. We are working to increase the production of jet-powered and fiber-optic drones – this is extremely important right now, one of the key priorities, and we need sufficient supplies for the troops. We also discussed our missile program today – accelerating production to the maximum. We are also working on establishing domestic production of anti-aircraft missile systems and all necessary air defense systems in Ukraine. These days, during meetings in Europe and earlier in negotiations with other partners, we discussed the localization of production for some air defense systems and missiles for them in Ukraine – this must definitely be achieved. I would like to thank all our partners who support us in this industrial and technological development, and everything we are achieving now in Ukraine will be a joint result for all of Europe – our shared and lasting security.
Right now in Sumy, a rescue operation is still ongoing. All services are involved – Ukraine’s State Emergency Service, National Police, our medical and municipal services. There are many injured – as of now, reports confirm nearly 90 people injured, including 17 children. At the epicenter of the attack were a school and residential buildings. Fortunately, the children at the school were in shelter. I am grateful to everyone helping the people and to all those saving the lives of Ukrainians. Each day like this, every night under Russian missiles and drones, every single day of this war brings loss, pain, and destruction that Ukraine never wanted. The war was brought from Russia, and it is to Russia that the war must be pushed back. They must be the ones forced into peace. They are the ones who must be pressured to ensure security. Thank you to everyone who is helping us in this. Thank you to all who are working for the security of Ukraine, for the protection of our people, and for the defense of our cities.
First and foremost, gratitude to our air defenders. Every night now brings massive Russian drone attacks – nearly a hundred Shaheds each time. Many are being shot down. As of this morning alone, 97 drones were shot down overnight. Mobile fire groups, electronic warfare units, air defense crews – thank you. Unfortunately, there are also hits. We need significantly more effectiveness in our air defense. The development of an efficient air shield will not stop. Today, I would like to thank all our partners who are helping us in this. But we need more air defense systems, more ammunition specifically for shooting down drones. We are discussing this with all our partners. Last night in Kyiv, tragically, three people were killed by Russian drones, including a father and his five-year-old daughter. Just a day earlier in Zaporizhzhia, a Russian strike took the lives of an entire family – a mother, a father, and their daughter. My condolences to all the families and loved ones. There must be more pressure on Russia to stop this terror. And that depends on all our partners – the U.S., Europe, and others around the world.
Today, I held a Staff Meeting. Several issues were discussed, but the key topic was drones – all types that we need. There is good news regarding long-range drones: our 3,000-kilometer-range drone has successfully passed testing. I am grateful to the developers and manufacturers. We are advancing a line of long-range capabilities that will help guarantee the security of our state. There was also a report on the use of Ukrainian missiles – the long Neptune, and we can say we are satisfied with the strike results. However, we need to produce more missiles, more drones, and this week, we will discuss this with our partners. Ukraine’s defense production capacity, combined with partner investments – primarily from Europe – forms a reliable foundation for a new security architecture that will inevitably be established on our continent. There is no alternative to this. Security is essential, and it is only a matter of time before everyone on the continent realizes that the old security architecture will no longer work. New solutions are needed. Sufficient modern technological weaponry. Sufficient defense spending. Sufficient investment in defense production. And most importantly – motivation. Motivation to defend one’s home. And this means contingents that have relevant combat experience, and that are trained by those who have already gained such experience.
