Dear Ukrainians!
Today, in broad daylight, the Russians struck Kyiv and the region with ballistic missiles. They targeted an event in the Bucha district that definitely should not have been there. Today, I spoke with Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and received reports from law enforcement. Criminal investigations have already been opened into what happened. Of course, the strike was caused by Russian missiles, by Russian terror, and nothing else. But we have already said a thousand times that, in these wartime conditions, with an enemy like this, you definitely cannot hold any weapons exhibitions with large crowds of people, especially near residential buildings. As of now, ten people have been confirmed killed in this attack. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Many people were wounded and injured.
There were also extremely brutal Russian strikes on Slovyansk and other communities in the Donetsk region, Kharkiv region, Kherson, Sumy region, Odesa, and the region. We know from our intelligence and our partners that the Russians have readied missiles for a new massive attack on Ukraine. The strike may take place today – we have preliminary information that it could happen within the next 48 hours. Please take care of yourselves and pay attention to air raid alerts.
Today, I held meetings with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykhailo Drapatyi, Yevhenii Khmara was also there, as well as his Ministry of Defense team, other government officials, and Prime Minister of Ukraine Sergii Koretskyi. We mapped out in detail the sequence of steps that can provide more protection for our cities, our villages, our south, and our infrastructure. We are updating the plan to protect our grain exports. I very much appreciate that all the leaders of our defense and security sector are coordinating actively with one another. That is exactly what we need. I am grateful to Mykhailo Drapatyi and Yevhenii Khmara for their attention to detail and for working together. Pavlo Palisa and the team of the Office of the President will continue helping to find and implement solutions. Prime Minister Koretskyi is preparing economic and infrastructure alternatives that can strengthen Ukraine's resilience. The Prime Minister and the entire government team will work on maximizing the diversification of our export and import operations. The challenges are very significant. We also need asymmetric solutions. Securing fuel supplies for Ukraine's domestic market, creating additional export routes, putting in place the necessary support programs for Ukrainian producers, and working with our partners – our neighbors in the region and Brussels – all of this is already underway. We do expect understanding from our partners – air defense is the first priority where partners can help us. Every agreement must be carried out – and carried out promptly. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all of our diplomats must move faster, and Ukraine's needs must be voiced louder around the world – because these are real needs for protecting lives. And it is important that more and more is becoming known in our key partner countries about what is really happening in Ukraine, about Russia’s attacks against our people, and about Russia’s efforts to prolong this war. Laura Loomer is in Ukraine these days. She is close, very close to President Trump. We spoke, and Laura saw a lot in Ukraine, in the capital and beyond – the Lavra, our people, and everything we are going through. I hope that America will continue to stand with Ukraine and that we will be able to end this war with a dignified peace. This is what we need. We are preparing for a meeting with the President of the United States and his team. I thank America. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine – with our people and our efforts to protect life.
We have clear intelligence that Russia is preparing a new and quite significant wave of mobilization for the fall. Currently, the Russians are losing more troops on the front than they are recruiting, yet Putin is still planning to intensify the attacks and expand this war. He needs more Russians to throw into assaults. We must defend ourselves against this in advance – at every level: on the front, through our long-range sanctions, through our mid-range strikes, through our diplomacy, and, of course, through engagement with everyone who can support life and bring peace closer. Eternal memory to everyone killed by Russia.
Glory to Ukraine!