Category: Attack on Ukraine

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (21/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (21/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 21 November 2022.

    Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

    This day is coming to an end – already the 270th day of the full-scale war. I will report briefly.

    The first topic is the frontline. The fiercest battles, as before, are in the Donetsk region. Although there are fewer attacks today due to the deterioration of the weather, the number of Russian shelling occasions remains, unfortunately, extremely high.

    Luhansk region – little by little we are moving forward with battles. As of now, there have been almost 400 shelling occasions in the east since the beginning of the day. Thank you to each and everyone who holds positions and helps our defense forces.

    South – we are holding the line, consistently and very calculatedly destroying the potential of the occupiers.

    The second topic is energy. Restoration of networks and technical supply capabilities, demining of power transmission lines, repairs – everything goes on round the clock.

    We managed to alleviate the situation in some regions where there were a lot of real problems yesterday. This evening there are stabilization shutdowns in 15 regions and in Kyiv as well. The largest are Vinnytsia, Sumy, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kyiv regions and the capital. We are doing everything possible and impossible to return normal life to Odesa, Kharkiv and all our cities and communities.

    And I thank all energy workers, utility workers, regional administrations – everyone who works for the sake of Ukrainians.

    The third topic is foreign policy. Today I addressed the participants of the summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie. These are more than 50 participating countries, and more than 20 observer countries. Africa, Asia, America, Europe – everywhere they hear Ukraine, everywhere they know our proposals on how to restore peace to Ukraine and how to restore stability to the world.

    I will say right away that the Ukrainian peace formula is perceived extremely positively in the world. It is quite constructive and realistic – in contrast to the empty and mendacious Russian rhetoric about their alleged readiness for some kind of negotiations.

    We will do everything to make the world accept the Ukrainian peace formula.

    There will be several important international addresses in the upcoming week. And we are already preparing.

    And one more thing.

    Traditionally, the Day of Agricultural Workers is celebrated in Ukraine on the third Sunday of November. Was there ever an international context to this day? This year it’s definitely there.

    This year, many people in the world saw how important the contribution of Ukrainians to global food security is. The lives of millions of people in different countries directly depend on our agricultural sector.

    I thank all our people who work on the ground, who provide Ukraine and the world with the essentials. Thanks to you and your work, we can find support for our state in those countries with which we do not yet have traditional relations. But we will have them, trust me.

    Glory to all who fight for Ukraine!

    Glory to everyone who works and helps!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • David Duguid – 2022 Parliamentary Question on War Crimes Investigation in Ukraine

    David Duguid – 2022 Parliamentary Question on War Crimes Investigation in Ukraine

    The parliamentary question asked by David Duguid, the Conservative MP for Banff and Buchan, in the House of Commons on 7 December 2022.

    David Duguid (Banff and Buchan) (Con)

    What steps she has taken to support the investigation of potential war crimes in Ukraine.

    The Attorney General (Victoria Prentis)

    The Government stand with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s invasion. I am personally extremely committed to this and, frankly, my home life would not be worth living if I were not. We are working closely with the Ukrainian prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin, as he prosecutes Russia’s crimes in the Ukrainian courts. The UK, US and EU Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group is helping him, as is Sir Howard Morrison. We have provided a package of financial support for the International Criminal Court, and we stand ready to do whatever else is required.

    David Duguid

    I join others in welcoming my right hon. Friend to her post. What is her assessment of the international community’s response to the alleged war crimes being committed in Ukraine?

    The Attorney General

    The international community is determined to support Ukraine’s search for justice. Last week I attended a meeting of G7 Justice Ministers in Berlin, which focused on this. These are difficult issues to address, and it will take time and careful international working to overcome the perspectives and preferences of individual states.

    Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)

    It is clearly hugely important that those who commit war crimes are brought to justice. Does the Attorney General agree it is hugely important that maximum publicity is given, perhaps via social media, to shame those who have committed these crimes?

    The Attorney General

    The hon. Gentleman makes an important point, and this is a very unusual situation. The Ukrainians are prosecuting war crimes in real time, and we hope the news of those prosecutions, and of the 13 Russian soldiers who have already been convicted and imprisoned as a result, will permeate through the Russian ranks and stop them committing war crimes in this terrible war.

  • Victoria Prentis – 2022 Speech on the Legal Response to Russia’s War in Ukraine

    Victoria Prentis – 2022 Speech on the Legal Response to Russia’s War in Ukraine

    The speech made by Victoria Prentis, the Attorney General, in London on 9 December 2022.

    1. Excellencies, members of the London legal community, ladies and gentlemen – it is a real pleasure and a great privilege to address you at the beginning of this important legal conference, alongside my dear Ukrainian colleagues Ambassador Prystaiko which whom I’ve worked very closely this year and Deputy Justice Minister Mudra.
    2. London holds a special place in history for hosting discussions and gatherings on the most significant international legal debates. Some of the most influential international lawyers have and do practise here.
    3. Hugo Grotius, the Dutch jurist and early pioneer of international law came here in 1613 to negotiate the return of two Dutch ships captured by the British. I am pleased to say the Government lawyers of the day made sure he didn’t succeed and he went home empty handed.
    4. One of my personal heroes, and arguably the architect of modern international law, Herscht Lauterpacht, was born near Lviv, lived a few miles North-East of here and spoke up well before it was fashionable for human rights for all, for individual criminal responsibility and the need for an effective system of international law. His son Eli, whose lectures I attended and whom I later instructed, carried on his important work.
    5. And, of course, it was in London, in the summer of 1945, that the allies gathered to put in place one of the most significant cornerstones of international criminal justice of the 20th century – the framework for the tribunal that would ultimately take place in Nuremberg later that year, to try the perpetrators of the atrocities committed during World War II.
    6. It is in that spirit, and on the shoulders of those international lawyers, that this conference comes together – to again take up the heavy responsibility of justice and accountability. I, and the whole of the UK government, are keen to do what we can to ensure justice is done.
    7. Having seen the programme for today’s conference, it is clear that no-one in this room is shirking that responsibility. Nothing has been left off the table – and this is the right approach.
    8. It is an occupational hazard that lawyers disagree – we make our livings out of representing a position and arguing against those who have taken the opposing position. It is in our nature to find the risks, the drawbacks – and explain them to our clients, or a Court. States and policy makers will also, invariably, disagree. That is the nature of our work. We all each have our own national interests and perspectives. But settings like this one allow us all to interrogate the issues, which should in turn enable stronger strides forward together in due course.
    9. My view, and the view of the UK government, is that nothing should be off the table. We will carefully consider all options for accountability. You will see throughout the day my officials and civil servants from across Whitehall departments – kindly invited by our Ukrainian hosts – at the back of the room, noting all of your thoughtful comments and proposals.
    10. Let’s look, though, at what we have achieved so far. The international community’s response to Russia’s illegal invasion has been unprecedented.
    11. The UK played a leading role in gathering support for a State Party referral of the situation in Ukraine to International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan. This enabled him to launch an investigation immediately without seeking authorisation from the court’s judiciary. To date, 43 States Parties to the Rome Statute have supported the referral. It is the largest State Party referral in the court’s history.
    12. The UK is at the forefront of supporting the Court, by seconding national experts and making an additional £1million financial contribution, to help provide enhanced support to witnesses and survivors and for the provision of new technology in evidence collection. We will continue to discuss with the Court what support we might be able to help.
    13. I was in Berlin last week for the first-ever meeting of the G7 Justice Ministers. The focus was how we can better cooperate, and coordinate investigations and prosecutions. Our Berlin Declaration set out our conclusions, including establishing single points of contact in our respective countries.
    14. The work done in Ukraine’s domestic investigations and prosecutions has been extraordinary. Led by my good friend, Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, Ukrainian prosecutors have opened files into almost 50,000 alleged international crimes. They have, and continue to, carry out trials in the course of an ongoing, live and brutal conflict. This is totally unprecedented – and we should recognise it as such. And crucially this is a unique opportunity to deter soldiers on the ground and their commanders from committing further atrocities.
    15. We are proud to have supported Andriy’s work through the Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group, together with our friends in the US and EU. And, even as I speak, today Sir Howard Morrison – the UK’s former judge at the ICC and now the UK-appointed Independent Advisor to Andriy and his office – is on his way back from the region, having completed the first of a series of training sessions for Ukrainian judges. These have been developed with the Ukrainian judiciary, to get them ready to try the cases that Andriy will be bringing in the course of the next months and years. Our funding will enable up to 90 Ukrainian judges receive intensive and extensive training on the full range of issues involved in conducting a war crimes case.
    16. Today’s discussion allows us the opportunity, in this peaceful setting, to think and discuss. But we should not let ourselves drift too far from the reality of what is going on in Ukraine. In March, Vika joined our family when she fled the shelling at home. Her grandparents are still living, mainly in their cellar, on the outskirts of Kherson. I know this is a fight shared by those here today, and many, many others around the UK and across the international community. Lawyers are always ready to fight – and there is no fight more serious than this one.
    17. So, may I conclude by thanking you all for your attendance; for all your skills that you are bringing to the discussions. I wish you a very fruitful conference.
  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (20/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (20/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 20 November 2022.

    Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

    I briefly report on the day, which started very early today, it was very active, and my schedule for this day is not yet exhausted.

    I just held another meeting of the Staff. The main issues are the front. The provision of our troops, the situation in particular sections of the front line and that we are planning to increase the number of Ukrainian flags in the cities in the south and east of the country.

    The battles in Donetsk region were discussed separately. Reports were presented. We are doing everything to help our heroes withstand Russian attacks.

    Of course, special attention was paid to energy.

    The composition of the participants of the Staff meeting is traditional. The Commander-in-Chief, commanders and all who work for our defense.

    An extremely important visit to Ukraine took place today – the visit of the new British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. A very meaningful visit. We managed to discuss all the key issues of our relations. There will be new results for both our countries – that’s for sure.

    Thank you, Rishi, Mr. Prime Minister, for your willingness to defend freedom even more strongly with us. We also have some very necessary decisions – we agreed on them today.

    As always, today I received reports on restoration work in the energy sector.

    We are working throughout the country to stabilize the situation.

    The most problems with electricity are in the city of Kyiv and Kyiv region, the city of Odesa and Odesa region, the city of Kharkiv and Kharkiv region. Vinnytsia, Ternopil, Cherkasy, Chernihiv and other regions – energy workers are doing everything possible to give people a normal life.

    Kherson – we are restoring transport connections. There is the first train from Kyiv. We create new opportunities for people every day.

    We are preparing important international events – they will be soon. We will provide everything that is needed for our protection.

    We involve everyone who can be involved in supporting our state.

    Thank you to everyone who works for Ukraine!

    Thank you to everyone who fights for Ukraine!

    Thanks to everyone in the world who helps!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (19/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (19/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 19 November 2022.

    Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

    All day long, the energy staff worked to restore the normal technical possibility of electricity supply, as a result today there are already significantly fewer emergency shutdowns.

    As of the evening, in most regions where shutdowns continue, stabilization hourly schedules were in effect. Emergency shutdowns were used to a greater extent in the Odesa region and Kyiv.

    The difficult situation with energy supply persists in a total of 17 regions and in the capital. Kyiv region and Kyiv, it’s very difficult in the Odesa region, and also the Vinnytsia region and Ternopil region.

    Special “Points of Invincibility” were opened in Kherson today. The first two points. There will be more.

    While electricity is restored in the city, people can charge their phones, stay warm, drink tea and get help. We have provided communication service there, there are “Starlinks”, etc.

    We know that it is very difficult for people, because the occupiers destroyed everything before fleeing. But we will connect everything, restore everything.

    Vice-President of the European Commission Dombrovskis was in Kyiv today. We talked with him, in particular, about energy. Financial cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union, the financing needs of our country until the end of the year and in the next year were also discussed in detail.

    This year, we expect two tranches of macro-financial aid – EUR 2.5 billion in November and EUR 0.5 billion in early December.

    We also discussed new sanctions against Russia, which may be introduced at the European level.

    I spoke today with the student community of Ireland – a country that supports us fundamentally. Although it is a neutral country militarily, Ireland strongly defends European values and helps us politically and humanitarianly.

    I made two requests to the Irish. The first is to promote at the pan-European level the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia. The second is to help us spread the truth about the events in Ukraine and about Russian terror.

    I also addressed the participants of the security forum in Halifax, Canada, which is one of the world’s security forums. Once again, I presented the Ukrainian peace formula and invited Canada and our other partners to choose for themselves a component of the peace formula in which they can show their leadership as much as possible.

    This is the point of the way we present our proposals for restoring peace.

    We have broken them down into elements – what Russian aggression consists of. And we do everything to neutralize each of these elements and to neutralize the aggressor because of it.

    Every day, I receive very positive feedback from the world about this approach of ours – major leaders support Ukrainian constructiveness. And I believe that we will be able to implement our peace formula.

    The fierce fighting in the Donetsk region continues to this day, there has been no alleviation of hostilities or respite. About a hundred Russian attacks were repelled in the Donetsk region only yesterday. All our warriors who are holding out in Donbas are true heroes.

    Today, I would like to pay particular attention to the border guards of the Kharkiv and Sumy detachments, who are currently operating in the Donetsk region. Their mortars help a lot, giving the invaders no rest. Nice job, guys! Thank you!

    I also thank the warriors of the 4th operational brigade of the National Guard, which protects Ukraine in the direction of Bakhmut. Smart initiative and persistence are two things that produce extremely useful results.

    Nowhere on the frontline do we give in to the enemy. We respond everywhere, we hold positions everywhere. We are preparing future successes in certain areas.

    I spoke today with the President of Türkiye Erdoğan. Thanked him for the efforts to extend our grain export initiative.

    We also discussed the details of our new humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine. I hope that Türkiye will join its implementation.

    Of course, attention was paid to both security cooperation and energy situation.

    Tomorrow we will have a very active day, not a day off at all. We are expecting news and opportunities for Ukraine. And we are already preparing the appropriate soil for them.

    And today I want to say one more thing – congratulations. Congratulations to all sergeants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on their professional day. Today, many kind words were said both in the army and in society.

    Sergeants are truly the people who ensure real unity and understanding between commanders and soldiers. The sergeant corps is the true backbone of the Army, and I thank all of our sergeants who live up to those words.

    Thank you to each and everyone who is currently serving in our defense forces!

    Thank you to everyone who made the defense of Ukraine a part of their personal destiny!

    Glory to our heroes!

    Eternal memory and honor to those who gave their lives for the freedom of Ukrainians!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (18/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (18/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 18 November 2022.

    Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

    Today we have important international results.

    Our export grain initiative has been extended. Despite all the difficulties, despite various manipulations by Russia, we will continue to export agricultural products through our Black Sea ports.

    This is a very specific thing that makes the world see the importance of Ukraine. Since August 1, more than 450 ships have already left the ports of Great Odesa. The total amount of food is 11 million tons. The geography is very broad: Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Yemen, Lebanon, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Türkiye, as well as the countries of the European Union.

    Tens of millions of people, primarily in African countries, have been saved from starvation, in particular by means of deliveries in the framework of the UN World Food Programme from our ports.

    We also managed to reduce the pressure on the global food market. And this means that food prices are significantly lower than they would be without our food exports.

    We have done everything to expand this work. And I thank all our partners who are helping: the UN and Secretary-General Guterres personally, Türkiye and President Erdoğan personally. Thanks to everyone in our team who is responsible for this direction. This is a truly important result.

    Today, a meeting was held in the Office regarding our Grain from Ukraine initiative. We have the consent of such countries as Germany, Poland, Belgium, Japan, Türkiye and the USA to join the work of the initiative. But these are the countries that have already made up their mind. There will be more participating countries.

    The meaning is very simple and as specific as possible. All the countries of the world, together with Ukraine, can ensure the supply of food for those in the world who suffer the most from food shortages. We will provide more details on how this will work shortly.

    I believe that this Russian aggression should lead the whole world to an obvious conclusion: never again should there be mass famine in the world. If the world works in unity, famine will be defeated.

    A very important decision was adopted today in the Netherlands. There is the first sentence for the murderers who destroyed the Malaysian Boeing in the sky over Donbas in 2014. Three men were sentenced to life imprisonment. And the day will surely come when they will begin to serve this punishment.

    But this decision is not just about three murderers. Russia lied a lot about this catastrophe, but nevertheless the key facts were established. Now the perpetrators have been convicted and the basis is provided to convict the culprits of a higher level, too. Those who bear full personal responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine – the original crime that gave rise to all the others committed by the Russists since 2014.

    This is something without which it is impossible to protect the world from the repetition of such wars as Russian aggression against our state. When all the murderers and torturers are convicted, when their commanders and political “cover” face fair sentences, when Russia compensates for all the damage caused by Russian aggression, it will be a very solid foundation for a lasting peace.

    We have all the possibilities to ensure this. Every Russian war crime, every terrorist attack of theirs will receive its legal response. Today’s decision in The Hague proves it.

    The elimination of the consequences of another missile attack against Ukraine continues all day…

    Again, there are emergency shutdowns in addition to planned, stabilization ones. Currently, more than 10 million Ukrainians are without electricity. Most of them are in the Vinnytsia region, Odesa region, Sumy region and Kyiv. We are doing everything to normalize the supply.

    In Dnipro, dozens of people were injured as a result of a missile attack. Everyone is provided with aid.

    In Zaporizhzhia, the clearance of the rubble of a residential building, which was destroyed by Russian shelling at night, continues… The list of the dead includes seven people. Unfortunately, this number may increase.

    Only in the first half of today, our defense forces managed to shoot down six Russian cruise missiles and five Shaheds. Unfortunately, not all of those launched by terrorists.

    We repeat to our partners again and again that only full protection of the Ukrainian sky will protect both Ukraine and Europe from many possible escalations of Russian aggression and will definitely encourage Russia to truly end the war. Not to the kind of propaganda that now sounds from the Kremlin about the alleged readiness for negotiations in order to buy some time and gather forces for a new offensive, but to real peace.

    I would like to thank Finland and Sweden today for the decisions regarding the new defense assistance packages. This is very important. Each such decision of the states makes them co-creators of our victory and future peace.

    Today I signed several decrees on awarding our warriors. 402 servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were honored with state awards.

    In total, since February 24, more than 32,000 Ukrainian men and women have been awarded for bravery in battles. 4950 of them – posthumously.

    We must always remember how many people gave their lives to save Ukraine and freedom.

    Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken by Russian aggression!

    Glory to all who gain victory for Ukraine!

    Gratitude to everyone who helps us and works for the state!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (17/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (17/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 17 November 2022.

    Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

    Today was a long and hard day. And now, in the evening, it seems that the events of the morning happened at least yesterday or the day before yesterday…

    The summit in Indonesia. I took part in today’s work of the leaders.

    Then – another meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, discussion in detail. The situation at the front. Also, the military presented all the available data on the missile hitting the territory of Poland. Everyone responsible for liquidating the consequences of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine reported on the recovery work.

    Recovery does not stop for a minute.

    Emergency blackouts and stabilization outages continue in 18 regions and the city of Kyiv. These are millions of consumers. We are doing everything to restore electricity – both generation and supply.

    Another meeting of the “Ramstein” defense group took place. The key issue is the strengthening of our anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense.

    I held negotiations with the vice president of the World Bank, who is responsible for our region. We discussed projects for the reconstruction of our infrastructure and social facilities, the work of the Recovery Fund of our country.

    The total cost of projects discussed today is billions of dollars. This is something that needs to be rebuilt now to guarantee a normal life for people.

    There were reports on the liberation of the territories of Kherson region – we are doing everything to provide people with electricity, water, communications, financial and social services, and normal medicine as soon as possible.

    Pharmacies are finally reopening in Kherson, the post office, banks are working. People are getting access to the Internet. There are already 30 humanitarian aid distribution points.

    Electricity was restored to more than 20 de-occupied settlements in Kherson region.

    Mykolaiv region is the same. We return everything necessary for a normal life.

    We are working to restore the water supply to Mykolaiv. Payment of pensions has started in Snihurivka.

    And I thank everyone who provides recovery. And especially our sappers and rescuers. Thanks to their work everyone else can work safely.

    Once again, I will repeat to everyone in the de-occupied territory: please be very careful!

    Russia wants to kill even after fleeing from our land. Therefore, you need to be very careful.

    If you see anything suspicious, report it to the emergency services and the police. If a building has not yet been checked by sappers, please do not enter it. If a road has not been checked yet, please skip it.

    Reports and messages from Donetsk region are unchanged. Fierce battles continue at the same points as before. We hold our positions despite dozens of attacks.

    Of course, there was a lot of international communication. Not everything can be talked about now. We protect the interests of Ukraine, as always.

    Today is the professional day of thousands of our people who perform one of the most important jobs. And this is not only the work to inform people.

    The Day of Radio, Television and Communication Workers is about those who strengthen democracy at all times. Who integrates society informationally, emotionally and politically. Who unites our interests, our pain and our joys, our hopes and aspirations, our problems.

    The stronger this sphere is in the country, the stronger the democracy is there.

    I sincerely congratulate everyone who works in this field – each one.

    Those who make a telethon and those who work on other information platforms. Presenters, reporters whom we see and hear, studio workers, producers, editorial staff, whom society usually does not see and hear, but without whom this industry simply would not exist. Thank you all for your work for Ukrainians!

    Today there was a rather long interview. I also held an “off the record” meeting for journalists – specifically for radio and television workers.

    And the day is not over yet…

    There is also a meeting of the UN Security Council regarding the new wave of Russian missile terror. We are monitoring statements, working with partners, and defending Ukrainian interests.

    Of course, one of the main issues at the Security Council meeting is the situation in Poland, the clarification of all the circumstances of how Russian aggression crossed the Polish border.

    The Ukrainian position is very transparent: we strive to establish all the details, every fact.

    That is why we need our specialists to join the work of the international investigation and to get access to all the data available to our partners and the site of the explosion.

    All our information is in full access, we have been giving it to our partners since the night, from those first hours when the world began to find out what happened.

    I spoke with President Duda last night and expressed my condolences to him – Russian aggression took the lives of two Polish citizens.

    And I want all of us to honor the memory of all those whose lives were taken by this Russian war with a minute of silence.

    Citizens of Ukraine, citizens of Poland…

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (16/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (16/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 16 November 2022.

    Fellow Ukrainians!

    Today, the enemy launched another massive missile attack on our country.

    A total of 90 missiles. Energy system, enterprises, and residential buildings were damaged.

    And when did it happen?

    As soon as the first day of the G20 summit ended in Indonesia, the most significant statements were made, the key meetings took place.

    Russia is told about peace, but it fires missiles in response. It is told about the global crises that Russia caused, and it launches Iranian drones in response.

    It is offered ten points to end the war, and it fires ten missiles per each point about peace.

    At half past three this morning I joined the summit to present our proposals for restoring international peace and order. The world heard Ukraine. G19 members made their statements…

    And then in Moscow they decided that they could try again to achieve with terror what they could not and would not be able to achieve for the ninth month.

    15:24 – rocket, Kyiv. And throughout the country… How we lived today…

    15:54 – rocket, Kropyvnytskyi.

    15:56 – two rockets, Kirovohrad region.

    15:56 – rocket, Zhytomyr region. And also – Ivano-Frankivsk region, Rivne region, Kharkiv region…

    16:29 – rocket, Kryvyi Rih.

    16:29 – rocket, Poltava region.

    16:35 – Zhytomyr region again. Kyiv region, Lviv region, Odesa region, Mykolaiv region. And also – Volyn, Khmelnytskyi, Ternopil region… And again Kyiv.

    Killed and wounded people. My condolences to the families!

    In many cities and regions of our country, there are again emergency blackouts. About ten million Ukrainians are without electricity. Most of them – as of this moment – in Kharkiv region, Zhytomyr region, Kyiv region and Lviv region. Lviv and some other cities suspended the supply of heat… All over the country there are problems with communication and the Internet.

    As a result of the strikes, automation today disabled several nuclear units at two stations – these are calculated consequences, and the enemy knew exactly what he was doing.

    This is the answer of Russia to Indonesia, India, China and all other countries that talked about the need to end the war. Russia is telling the world that it wants to continue. Now it is time for the world to answer.

    Moreover, what we warned about a long time ago happened today. We’ve been telling this. Terror is not limited to our national borders. It has already spread to the territory of Moldova. And today, Russian missiles hit Poland, the territory of our friendly country. People died. Please accept condolences from all Ukrainian brothers!

    How many times has Ukraine said that the terrorist state will not be limited to our country?

    Poland, the Baltic states… It’s only a matter of time before Russian terror goes further. We must put the terrorist in his place! The longer Russia feels impunity, the more threats there will be to everyone who can be reached by Russian missiles.

    Hitting NATO territory with missiles… This is a Russian missile attack on collective security! This is a really significant escalation. Action is needed.

    And I want to tell all our Polish brothers and sisters now… Ukraine will always support you! Terror will not break free people! Victory is possible when there is no fear! We don’t have it, neither do you.

    I want to thank all partners who help protect the sky. In particular, our NASAMS systems worked well today: ten hits out of ten launches.

    As of this hour, more than 70 missiles and 10 combat drones have been shot down.

    I thank all our American and European friends who help us ensure such a result.

    I am also grateful to all our warriors of the “South”, “Center”, “East” and “West” air commands, as well as air defense units of the Ground Forces.

    I am grateful to all our rescuers, our energy workers who will work round the clock to restore normal life for Ukrainians. Restoration work has begun across the country.

    We will get through this too. We will restore everything.

    Russia opposes itself to the world. Russia loses on the battlefield. Russia terrorizes us and everyone it can reach. Let’s do everything to stop it!

    Glory to all who defend freedom!

    Glory to all who work for our victory!

    Eternal memory to all those whose lives were taken by terrorists!

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (15/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (15/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 15 November 2022.

    Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

    Today was a very productive and symbolic day – a day in the Kherson region, in the Mykolaiv region.

    First of all, I had the honor of personally presenting our warriors with state awards. In Kherson, I presented 36 orders of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi and “For Courage”, and handed over three more orders to wounded warriors.

    In particular, Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi of the 1st degree. In September, he became the commander of the Kherson operational-strategic group of troops, and we can see the result.

    The title of Hero of Ukraine was awarded to intelligence officer, sergeant Andriy Orlov. Back in September, he showed extraordinary bravery and effectiveness in battles in the Kherson region. He was wounded and recovered. Returned to the frontline. And already on November 10, as part of a reconnaissance unit, he took part in the liberation of Snihurivka. It was he who raised the Ukrainian flag over the district administration building.

    Of course, there will be more awards, there will be more gratitude. All our warriors who restore freedom to Ukrainians and the Ukrainian land deserve the utmost gratitude. It is so. It will be so.

    I held several meetings today – both in the Kherson region and in the Mykolaiv region. We will do everything to restore normal living conditions for our people.

    It is obvious to everyone what Ukraine is, what the presence of our flag is. When there is a Ukrainian flag, there is civilization, there is freedom. There is social security. There is infrastructure. There is security. There is someone to take care of people. There are all the things that disappear and that are destroyed when the occupier comes.

    This is what the Russian flag means – complete desolation. There is no electricity, no communication, no Internet, no television. The occupiers destroyed everything themselves – on purpose. This is their special operation. On the eve of winter, the Russian occupiers destroyed absolutely all critical infrastructure for the people. Absolutely all important objects in the city and region are mined.

    It is happiness for everyone when Russia is driven out. Happiness, which will also be in those cities and communities of ours, which are deprived of a normal life by Russia both after February 24 and in 2014. We will return everything. We will return normal life. And we know that peace for Ukraine is getting closer. For our entire country.

    In a few hours, I will talk about this in my address to the participants of the… G19 summit in Indonesia. This is an association of very influential states. And today, on the eve of the summit, influential statements have already been made.

    In particular, it is important that the United States and China jointly noted the inadmissibility of any threats to use nuclear weapons. Everyone understands whom these words are addressed to.

    Today, we also have decisions from our partners that strengthen Ukraine’s position. I am grateful to Canada for the new package of defense support for our country in the amount of half a billion dollars. And also for new sanctions against Russian accomplices of tyranny – against the cogs of this system.

    I am grateful to the United States for the new sanctions. Today, sanctions have been introduced against more than 40 legal entities and individuals who help Russia wage a war. Absolutely everyone who in one way or another works for the Russian army, the defense sector, must receive complete personal isolation from the rest of the world. And then there will be punishment for complicity in terror.

    Within the UN, our diplomats worked for a long time with partners to agree on and adopt two very important resolutions. The first of them is supported today – regarding the creation of an international compensation mechanism that will make it possible to compensate all the losses caused by the Russian war, moreover at the expense of Russian assets. The reparations that Russia will have to pay for what it has committed are now part of the international legal reality.

    We are still agreeing with our partners on the second resolution – to create a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine. We will do everything to make them both work.

    Today, a meeting of the Coordination Council of Ukraine for Child Protection and Safety co-chaired by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Head of the Office Andriy Yermak was held. I thank Mr. Guterres for that.

    They discussed how to stop the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and return home all those who were forcibly deported. At least these are almost 11 thousand children – we know them by name. But these are only the ones we know about. And in fact, there are more deported.

    The meeting was also attended by the ambassadors of the leading states, whom we call on to help with the implementation of this task. We will really need the power of the whole world to bring back all the deportees.

    I believe that we can ensure it!

    I am grateful to everyone who helps Ukraine!

    I am grateful to everyone who fights and works for our country!

    Eternal memory to all those who gave their lives for Ukraine and our people.

    Glory to Ukraine!

  • Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (14/11/2022)

    Volodymyr Zelenskyy – 2022 Statement on the Situation in Ukraine (14/11/2022)

    The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 14 November 2022.

    Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

    It is Sunday today. I’m in my office together with our team. The Office is working, Kyiv doesn’t stop, the country works non-stop. Look around – there are always people fighting and working without weekends for the sake of our victory.

    The frontline has no weekends. Rescuers and sappers have no weekends.

    Doctors helping the wounded have no weekends. Doctors helping our children have no weekends as well.

    Ukrainian energy workers fighting against Iranian drones have no rest.

    All our transport workers… truck drivers ensuring both the defense and the rear, Ukrzaliznytsia and all public companies.

    Business, which helps. Volunteers we can’t do without. Military enterprises repairing and manufacturing equipment.

    Diplomats working almost round the clock for 263 days already… Communication workers, security forces, hundreds and hundreds of other spheres, thousands of organizations and enterprises, millions of people.

    All of us already feel the approach of our victory. Because we preserve our unity and know that we are rightfully on our land.

    And I thank our commanders, intelligence and everyone involved for working out our next steps. Liberation steps.

    Stabilization and restoration of law and order in 226 settlements will be ensured in the Kherson region. This is more than 100,000 local residents as of this time.

    We are restoring communication, Internet, television. We are doing everything to restore normal technical capabilities for electricity and water supply as soon as possible.

    We will bring back transport and postal services. We will bring back ambulances and normal medicine.

    Of course, the restoration of the work of authorities, the police, some private companies is already beginning. And I thank the business, which is among the first to participate in the return of normal life.

    Our presence will be felt! It will be felt that there is life.

    But please do not forget that the situation in the Kherson region is still very dangerous. First of all, there are mines. Unfortunately, one of our sappers died, and four others were injured while clearing mines.

    I urge all residents of Kherson to be very careful and immediately inform the rescuers about all dangerous objects.

    Detention of Russian soldiers and mercenaries who were left behind in this territory and neutralization of saboteurs are also ongoing.

    Investigators have already documented more than 400 Russian war crimes, the bodies of both civilians and military personnel are being found.

    In the Kherson region, the Russian army left behind the same atrocities as in other regions of our country, where it was able to enter.

    We will find and bring to justice every murderer. Without a doubt.

    The fighting in the Donetsk region is as intense as in previous days. The level of Russian attacks is not decreasing. The level of resilience and bravery of our fighters is the highest. We do not allow our defense to be breached.

    I thank each of our warriors for this!

    As of now, the territory of five of our regions was hit by missile, air and artillery strikes of the occupiers during the day. These are Sumy region, Kharkiv region, Zaporizhzhia region, Luhansk region, and Donetsk region.

    We do everything to make the enemy feel our retaliation. To the maximum.

    Along the entire frontline, we ensure the destruction of enemy supply chains, ammunition depots, and enemy headquarters.

    We have to reduce the potential of the occupiers every day – without days off! It saves the lives of our people.

    And we are already very actively preparing for an important week for Ukraine – diplomatic week.

    There will be a G20 summit in Indonesia and our position will be presented.

    In a very meaningful way. We will give answers to many questions that are being asked now. Public answers. So that they are heard by all our people, all our partners, everyone who supports us.

    Already on Tuesday there will be my address.

    I am grateful to everyone who endures this marathon!

    I am grateful to everyone who fights and works for our country and freedom for all our people!

    I am grateful to everyone who helps!

    Glory to Ukraine!