Dear Ukrainians!
Rescue efforts are still ongoing in Dnipro following a Russian drone strike – it was a deliberate strike on the city center. Sadly, people were wounded. Overall, throughout the day, the eastern regions – Kharkiv, Dnipro, our Sumy, and Chernihiv – have been under near-constant air threats. Kharkiv came under attack. A substation in the Chernihiv region was hit, and restoration work is currently underway. In the Sumy region, during the night, the Russians killed an entire family, just killed them right in their home: a wife, a husband, and two young children, who were four and seven. The woman was pregnant. A Russian drone strike. My condolences to their families and loved ones. We will definitely respond to Russia for its strikes. There were also military reports today, covering, in particular, our deep strikes. We will continue, entirely justly, to destroy Russian logistics, Russian fuel infrastructure – everything that sustains Russia’s war. The world knows that only Russia is to blame for the war not ending. We are receiving the right signals from the United States of America and our other partners – signals that strength is needed to force Russia into real diplomacy and negotiations, into peace and meetings – the formats that can truly help and that Russia keeps dodging. Without strong pressure, the Russians will not stop; instead, they seek to escalate the aggression.
It is now the seventh day – by the way, it is something that has never happened before – of an emergency situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The situation is critical. Because of Russian shelling, the plant has been cut off from power, disconnected from the electrical grid, and is being supplied with electricity by diesel generators. This is extraordinary. The generators and the plant were not designed for this, and have never operated in this mode for so long. And we already have information that one generator has failed. It is Russian shelling that prevents the repair of the power lines to the plant and the restoration of basic safety. And this is a threat to absolutely everyone. No terrorist in the world has ever dared to do to a nuclear plant what Russia is doing right now. And it is right that the world does not stay silent. I held a meeting with the military and the Ministry of Energy. I instructed the Government – the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – to bring the world’s full attention to this situation.
I also held a sanctions meeting with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and the Presidential Commissioner on sanctions policy. The task is clear: sanctions must inflict more pain, more tangible consequences on Russia. In October, the work on sanctions synchronization must be expedited – particularly on harmonizing our sanctions within partner jurisdictions. We are counting on the adoption of the European Union’s 19th sanctions package, which will also be a strong point with the Americans – to ensure their pressure does not lag behind that of Europe and the other G7 members. I also instructed that preparations begin for the extension of expiring sanctions. So far in September, we have introduced five new sanctions packages. There were also decisions from our partners that are very helpful. In many cases, Europe’s sanctions, Canada’s sanctions, and the United States’ sanctions are based on our Ukrainian proposals. We are very grateful to our partners for this.
Today I spoke with UN Secretary-General Guterres. I thanked him for his support and outlined our efforts to bring home our Ukrainian prisoners, our adults, and to bring home our Ukrainian children held in Russia. We are preparing our resolution for the General Assembly on the children abducted by Russia. We are working with countries to ensure an effective vote and, above all, the main result – the return of our people, the return of our children. And one more thing.
Today, Ukrainian intelligence together with the MFA evacuated another 57 people from Gaza – 48 of them Ukrainian citizens, including 16 children. Altogether, over almost two years, through our efforts, 422 people have been evacuated from Gaza – not only citizens of Ukraine but also citizens of neighboring states. Thanks to an American initiative, there is an agreement to work toward resolving the entire situation in Gaza – and this matters not only for that region but for many others around the world. President Trump’s proposals are important – we discussed them today with the UN Secretary-General as well. This is a real chance for a settlement. We are ready to contribute to making the American proposals succeed. I thank everyone who is helping protect lives, all those who restore the power of international law and the international norm of respecting nations, respecting human life, and stopping wars. This is what matters most.
Glory to Ukraine!