I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
This day began with regional reports: across all our regions, since the night into Friday, there were truly no strikes on energy facilities – almost none. The exception was the Donetsk region, where a single strike was carried out on the gas infrastructure with aerial bombs. We are also now seeing Russia pivot to targeting logistics and junction stations. In particular, one of Ukrzaliznytsia’s special railcars was hit this morning – a power-generating car – it happened this morning in the Dnipro region. The important thing is that our railway staff are working and maintaining connections across all regions.
Throughout the day, the usual drone and aerial-bomb attacks also continued. In the Kharkiv region, a ballistic strike hit the warehouses of the American company Philip Morris, which caused a major fire. There were also strikes on Nikopol, Kherson, and the border areas of the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions. Our Ukraine’s approach is entirely reciprocal.
The U.S. side spoke about refraining from strikes on energy infrastructure for a week – the countdown began overnight. How this all unfolds depends largely on our partners – the United States. Ukraine is ready to mirror the restraint, and today we did not attack Russian energy.
There was also a meeting today on the development of a new component of our air defense – this component is regarded as a short-range counter-drone air defense. This concerns “shaheds” and appalling Russian “safari” against civilians in our southern cities, villages, and communities near the border. Our people need more protection. Clear tasks have been set for the Air Force command and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. All necessary resources are available to carry this out.
Also today, the Chief of the Defense Intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko, delivered his report, foremost on Russia’s latest military plans and preparations. They, in Russia, are not preparing for a transition to peacetime. They are preparing to continue assaults at the current level – exactly as it is happening now. We will share this information with our partners, and the only factor that can change the situation is economic pressure on Russia. The economy and the corresponding losses from the war are what Russia will reckon with. Russia must run out of money for the war to start coming to an end. We will keep sharing with our partners instances of Chinese entities cooperating with Russia – the ways Russia is bypassing global sanctions over this war.
I spoke with the President of Romania. Once again, I thank him for his support and his readiness to cooperate. There are areas for energy cooperation that can strengthen both our peoples and our energy security – and this is very important. Ukraine’s Minister of Energy and the team of the Government and the Office must all work as swiftly and effectively as possible to ensure results. I thank everyone in Europe who is already helping and is ready to support Ukraine even more.
Many reports were delivered today by Rustem Umerov – he is constantly in touch with the American side. Ukraine is ready for meetings, for all formats of effective work. These meetings must be substantive, exactly as our teams have agreed and are working, so that everything that has been developed is really implemented for a dignified and lasting peace. And Russia must recognize that peace is necessary.
One more thing.
Today, I tasked the Government of Ukraine – the Prime Minister – to prepare a decision to ensure that everyone who lacked heating these past months is treated fairly. People must not be charged for services they did not receive. If there was no heating, there should be no bills. It’s the companies, not the people, that must make the necessary recalculations. This must work without bureaucracy.
Glory to Ukraine!