Dear Ukrainians!
All day today, work continued to clear the rubble following the Russian missile strike on Pryluky. A Kh-101 missile. A direct hit on a residential building. Sadly, 19 people were killed, including five little children. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Overall, 25 people were killed in this massive strike on Ukraine. One hundred people were injured. It was a combined attack, involving many ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as “shaheds.” This is the kind of “gift” Putin gave himself for his birthday. The killing of children, the killing of people. There were new “shahed” and aerial bomb attacks during the day. It is important that world leaders do not remain silent over what happened. Over what is happening every single day. And, most importantly, over the fact that Russia intends to keep moving in this direction – to escalate, to kill, and to launch more strikes. Putin doesn't feel like this is causing him any problems. Real problems. Sanctions efforts have been weakened in many respects, and signals about lifting sanctions on oligarchs are, in fact, signals that the war is being normalized. Unfortunately. Putin can still sell oil, and when he does the math in dollars and euros, war still pays – it is advantageous for him to wage war. War is in his nature, it is his ideology. And all of this is a problem not only for Ukraine, not only for us, not only for our people and our children. It is a problem for everyone in Europe – and in the Western world. Russia is waging war against all the rules of life – to do away with all rules, leaving only the will of the strong. Maybe many in the West no longer believe that the Western world still exists, but Putin believes it does. Russia believes it does. And what is happening in Ukraine is a rehearsal for what Russia wants to preserve as an option for doing to any country. In Europe and beyond.
In a single night today, Ukrainian warriors shot down 44 missiles – both cruise and ballistic. Not all of those launched by Russia, and ballistic missiles are especially difficult to deal with. We suppressed 117 “shaheds” – most of those launched, but unfortunately, not all of them either. Additional packages of air defense missiles are needed, as are additional measures to support Ukraine. And there will be appropriate packages. The threat is there every day, and every day, our air defense batteries need to have missiles ready. We strongly count on prompt deliveries from our partners. On sufficient production. We are constantly in touch with everyone who has a say in this. The delivery schedule must be ensured. I thank everyone who is truly helping us! I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken by the Russians…
Glory to Ukraine!