Fellow Ukrainians!
I’ve just held a meeting of the Staff – focused on the energy sector. On what is really happening across the regions, communities, and energy facilities. On the situation in cities from Slavutych to Zaporizhzhia. Also, the Chernihiv region, Sumy region, Kharkiv and the region, Donetsk region, Dnipro region. Also the Poltava region, Zaporizhzhia region, central Ukraine, our western regions, the regions in the South. Separate attention was given to the challenges in Mykolaiv and Odesa.
There were also reports on the deployment of additional air defense capabilities – a comprehensive protection – delivered by military commanders, as well as a detailed discussion on the protection of energy facilities and specific communities. Additional resources are needed to ensure an adequate response to every challenge. We resolved these issues and fulfilled all requests from the heads of the Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions first of all – requests for financial and other assistance.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko and other government officials visited Shostka in the Sumy region – where the situation is particularly difficult – as well as other cities in the eastern regions, and reported on the decisions made to support the people. Government officials will be present across the regions. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksii Kuleba reported on the inspection conducted in Odesa. There were also reports from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, and the heads of Naftogaz and Ukrenergo. I gave clear instructions on electricity – on generation facilities and additional winter equipment. We are increasing our stocks of equipment. There are also clear instructions on gas – we are discussing this with our partners. The Dutch Prime Minister has already expressed readiness to help and support us – I spoke with him about it today. Norway is also ready – I am very grateful to the partners. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry will gather ambassadors from countries that can help.
Help not only our resilience, but also in fact themselves – if certain countries cut off the blatantly reprehensible schemes of supplying Russia with critical components for the production of missiles and drones, the Russian threat will become drastically smaller. Putin does not know how to wage war without terror. Russia would not have a single missile or most of its drones, and therefore would not be able to cause significant damage to our energy sector, if they were unable to purchase or somehow import Western-made components for missiles and "shaheds", as well as components and machinery from South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan. Unfortunately, many critical components are still being supplied to Russia from Europe and the US. And we are not talking about a dozen components, but hundreds of thousands of components, purely commercial supplies. The direct consequence of all this is that the Russians are terrorizing our country, threatening other countries, behaving despicably, and refusing to make peace. There are specific points that must be pressured. And we are doing everything to make that pressure work. The world has the power to stop terror – any terror – and Russia is no exception.
I would also like to acknowledge today the work of the State Emergency Service employees and the National Police – they are truly providing effective assistance in communities. Energy companies are also providing substantial assistance, and there is a great deal of professional work being done by utility services. Unfortunately, local authorities are not effective everywhere. And if local leaders are unwilling or unable to resolve critical issues on their own, the central government will make the necessary decisions regarding them. I have given instructions to the Government and to our military. There is not much time left before winter.
The Third Defense Industries Forum is taking place today – I attended it together with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. This large-scale forum brings together our state-owned companies, hundreds of private Ukrainian companies, and partner companies. New agreements on weapons production have been reached, and overall we are on track to meet the goal of having 50% Ukrainian-made weapons at the front by the end of this year. This summer the share of our weapons was 40% – and this growth will clearly strengthen our independence and domestic capabilities. I thank everyone in Ukraine who is working toward this goal. Our defense industry employs more than 300,000 people, and that is extremely significant.
And today I also spoke with the Prime Minister of Lithuania, who is visiting Ukraine. For the first time, by the way. This is the Prime Minister’s first visit since her appointment – and she chose to come to Ukraine. There is a full understanding of our situation – both for Ukraine and for all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. It is a productive visit – I am grateful for Lithuania’s readiness to join the PURL initiative, which allows us to purchase American weapons, and for its willingness to support our energy resilience.
And in the coming weeks, there will be a lot of this kind of activity: pressure on Russia for the war, the resilience of Ukraine’s energy system and our communities, and, of course, our long-range capabilities – the sanction that hits Russia most tangibly. It is important that everyone deliver their own result for Ukraine. Every single day.
Glory to Ukraine!