Fellow Ukrainians!
Today was almost entirely devoted to recovery efforts in our regions: the necessary forces of communities, municipal services, and energy companies are engaged everywhere. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine, in addition to the real assistance already being provided across all regions, is also forming reserve forces. These are consolidated energy groups that will be able to quickly bolster the capabilities already in place. Ukrzaliznytsia crews are also working – more than forty of them, and the number will be increased to sixty. They are being deployed specifically to work in the capital.
Right now, the situation in Kyiv remains the most challenging in terms of most indicators. This applies to both electricity and heating. Naftogaz will also increase the number of crews assisting Kyiv. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine is ensuring the operation of a sufficient number of warming centers at present: more than 200 such centers in Kyiv, with nearly 9,000 people having sought assistance over the past 24 hours. The “Warmth Packages” program is also underway. As of now, as of this week, almost 40,000 packages have been distributed in the areas where the need is greatest.
I would also like to thank everyone working on infrastructure and recovery in the Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv regions, in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia, in the Dnipro region, and other regions of central Ukraine. There is particularly intensive work underway right now in the Poltava region, as well as in the Donetsk region. I thank everyone who is working truly effectively on recovery in the Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Volyn regions, in Kropyvnytskyi and the region, as well as Odesa and the region. I am particularly grateful to our energy workers, our municipal service workers, and every single person working in Kherson and Mykolaiv for the sake of our shared resilience in Ukraine.
It is important that essential logistics are being maintained everywhere. This week as well, the Russian army has been striking the railway almost every day. Today, there was a targeted strike in the Chernihiv region against a train that was scheduled to carry passengers that very day. In the days prior, there were strikes on railway infrastructure in the Kharkiv and Dnipro regions. I want to thank everyone who is protecting Ukraine’s railway and ensuring the continuous, uninterrupted operation of our Ukrzaliznytsia.
Today, it is worth especially recognizing the work of all the first responders who, at any time, in any weather, and under any circumstances – including under shelling – work together with energy workers and with everyone else so that people can live. This week, the employees of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine who are involved in work at energy facilities have distinguished themselves the most: Vasyl Vashchenko, Serhii Hubenko, Ruslan Dubyk, Maksym Yepifanov, Serhii Kovalchuk, Anatolii Kolomiiets, Oleksandr Kozhara, Oleksandr Mykoda, Ruslan Plakhtiienko, Volodymyr Strilchuk, Ivan Tymchenko, Dmytro Tkachenko, Ivan Khmelnytskyi, Yevhen Shepetun, Mykhailo Chornokalov. Thank you, guys – and thank you to all your colleagues, to each and every person whose work is helping Ukraine withstand these days, this winter!
And, of course, each of our partners must recognize their strength, their ability to support Ukraine and protect lives. Missiles for air defense are needed every single day. Protection against Russian ballistic attacks is needed every single day. Today, ballistic missiles again struck the Kyiv region. No country in the world should be left alone and without assistance under such strikes and in such a war. I want to thank everyone who stands with Ukraine. The coming weeks will be active in our work with partners. As always, results are needed. Results must be delivered.
Glory to Ukraine!