Tag: 2022

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 8 December 2022.

Fellow Ukrainians!

I have just signed the decrees on awarding posthumously the policemen whose lives were taken yesterday in the Kherson region by Russian mines.

The title of Hero of Ukraine was awarded to police colonel Mykhailo Kuratchenko. Orders “For Courage” – to police captains Ihor Melnyk and Serhiy Nenada and police corporal Vadym Perizhko.

Once again, my condolences…

They did everything for the safety of Ukrainians. Already returning after completing one of the tasks, when they removed weapons and ammunition from the cache of the occupiers, many of which were left in the Kherson region, the policemen stumbled upon a mine trap.

And this is the form of Russian terror that will have to be countered for years to come. Terrorists deliberately try to leave behind as many death traps as possible. Buried landmines, tripwire mines, mined buildings, cars and infrastructure… This is more than 170 thousand square kilometers of dangerous territory.

I am sure: this will be among the charges against Russia for aggression – precisely mine terror. Which is even more cruel and meaner than a missile one, because there is no anti-mine system that could destroy at least part of the threat, as our air defense does.

I am grateful to all our partners who help Ukraine with demining. Canada, Japan, Great Britain, Slovakia, ambassadors and donors of United24 and many others who understand how important it is that Ukraine is not left alone with the problem of the territory mined by the occupiers.

I met today with representatives of Slovakia, the government delegation – ministers of foreign affairs, defense and economy. We discussed the existing cooperation between our states both at the bilateral level and in the structures of the European Union. We agreed on new solutions for the sake of our common security and political interests.

We are actively working to support and strengthen the next sanctions against Russia – by European, American and other partners. The issue of the ninth EU sanctions package is currently in progress.

We are also waiting for other decisions, in particular, regarding schemes for circumventing anti-war sanctions, including financial and energy ones.

We are preparing several important events – for tomorrow and next week. Protecting and restoring the rights of our people, rebuilding Ukraine are constant priorities. The next week will be quite important for Ukraine in terms of these two tasks.

I thank all those who fight for freedom!

I thank everyone who strengthens our state and helps our people!

Eternal memory to everyone who gave their lives for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 7 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

Today was a long and hard day.

The Kherson region – four policemen died during stabilization measures… Russian mines.

Among the dead was Mykhailo Kuratchenko, chief of police of the Cherkasy region. He was helping colleagues in the south. EOD technician Ihor Melnyk. Dog trainer Serhiy Nenada. Assistant duty officer of the Uman district police department Vadym Perizhok. Doctors are currently saving the lives of four more policemen.

Police forces along with all the defense forces of our state are now on the frontline. And together with everyone they protect Ukrainians, together with everyone they suffer losses… My condolences.

The Donetsk region – today the Russian army carried out a very brutal, absolutely deliberate strike at Kurakhove. Precisely at civilians. At ordinary people. At the market, elevator, gas station, bus station, residential building. The list of the dead so far includes ten people, there are many wounded.

My condolences to relatives and friends… Eternal memory to all victims of Russian terror!

I’ve held a meeting of the Staff today. Commanders’ reports, analysis of the situation in specific directions.

First of all, regarding the Donetsk region, Bakhmut districts and other hottest spots. A very fierce confrontation is ongoing there, every meter counts.

I thank all our guys who destroy the enemy right there – every day, every night, every hour.

Of course, due attention was paid to the Luhansk region and Kharkiv region at the Staff’s meeting, there were reports on the situation in general and on the borders.

Energy sector is a permanent item on our agenda – both at the Staff and government levels.

I’ve also held a meeting on the stabilization of the energy system and the protection of our power plants.

We are constantly increasing the generation and supply of electricity – we are adding more volume almost every day. But we should not forget – and everyone should not forget – that it is now impossible to restore 100% of the energy system as it was before the beginning of the Russian energy terror. We need time. That is why shutdown schedules remain in most cities and districts.

As of this evening, the biggest number of shutdowns is in Kyiv and the region, Lviv region, Zhytomyr region, Khmelnytskyi region, Poltava region, Vinnytsia region and Zakarpattia. And I thank all our energy workers, repairmen, businesses, utility workers and local authorities who are doing everything they can to make things easier for people.

By the way, today is the Day of Local Self-Government. This is a holiday for all those who work with people directly and on whom almost everything in communities depends.

As in any government, in local self-government there are different people of different personal qualities and views. And today I thank all those who, at their level, really protect their communities. Who can be trusted and to whom people come for help. Who really takes care of the defense – within their responsibility – and who prepares everything so that his or her community can get through this winter more easily.

Thank you and congratulations on your professional day.

Today we have a very important result in France. The Supreme Court of France upheld the decision on recovery in favor of the Ukrainian Oschadbank from the aggressor state. The amount with accrued interest is almost 1.5 billion dollars.

This legal process has been dragging since 2015. More than six years of struggle, tens of thousands of pages of legal documents, many hopes and no less skepticism expressed by some… But there is this victory for Ukraine. Russia will be held to account for all stolen assets of the Ukrainian state and companies.

This is the first victory for a state-owned company in the legal cases against Russia concerning the seized property in Crimea, and I thank each and every one who secured this result.

Today, representatives of the Office and the government took part in a conference in America – a conference dedicated to the creation of a special tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Similarly, not everyone in the world agrees now that this tribunal will work. But no matter what they say, we will do our part and will definitely achieve a result for Ukraine and Ukrainians.

We are already preparing for the events of the second half of the week – at the international level. There will be important decisions for our defense.

We do everything to make them stronger.

I am grateful to all partners of our country!

Glory to all who work for the victory!

Glory to each of our warriors – to all those who obtain life for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 6 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

A report on the day.

The main result – 70 Russian missiles were launched, most of them were shot down. Kalibr, Kh-101, etc.

I am grateful to all our warriors of the air commands “East”, “South” and “Center”. Well done!

I am also grateful to our partners for the air defense systems we are currently using. Every downed Russian missile is concrete proof that terror can be defeated.

But, unfortunately, we still cannot ensure complete security to our sky – there were several hits.

Unfortunately, there are victims. As of this time, there are four people killed by Russian strikes today. My condolences to families and friends.

Energy workers immediately started restoration. Maximum efforts are in the central regions of Ukraine, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions. In many regions we had to switch to emergency shutdowns to stabilize the system. From Zakarpattia to Kyiv region, from Kirovohrad region to Sumy and Kharkiv regions. As of this evening, the biggest number of shutdowns is in Vinnytsia, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkasy regions. But we will do everything to restore stability.

Russian terror again affects neighboring states. There are interruptions with electricity supply in Moldova again. And this once again proves that Russia’s ability to carry out such massive terrorist attacks is a threat not only to Ukraine, but also to our entire region. At least.

When one terrorist destabilizes everyone’s lives, stopping terror is a joint task.

Tonight I will talk about this in my address to the expert community of the American Institute for the Study of War and to all our friends in the United States.

By the way, with today’s missile attack Russia marked the anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum. The fate of this document gives answers to many current questions about Russia. Simply signing something with these terrorists will not bring peace. They will certainly break any agreements reached with them. Giving up any element of someone else’s security to Russia means new war.

Therefore a principled continuation of the existing policy of conscientious states of the world is necessary: it is only the dismantling of Russian terrorist capacities, liberation of all our territories and holding the murderers to account that will bring peace. I believe we will come to this.

Another result of today is a new declaration of support for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic course. This is the third such declaration. Today it was signed with Montenegro. After the Czech Republic and Belgium.

We will complete this path step by step – we will persuade the Euro-Atlantic majority in favor of Ukraine. And not just in words, but in decisions. In decisions to support our accession to the collective security system.

And one more thing

Finally, a special award for extraordinary people appeared in Ukraine – for Ukrainian volunteers. “Gold Heart”. Today, greeting the volunteer community, I named the first 50 teams and individuals who will receive this new award shortly. But this is far from a complete list of those who deserve it.

The state should know how to be grateful and express gratitude. And it will.

Glory to everyone who defends Ukraine!

Gratitude to everyone who helps our state hold out against Russian terror!

Eternal memory to everyone whose life was taken by terrorists!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 5 December 2022.

Indomitable people of an indomitable country!

The fourth day of this winter is coming to an end. The winter, which will obviously be difficult. But still, it is worth perceiving this winter not as a test, but as time – time that brings us closer to the main thing – to victory. Each of these 90 winter days.

The enemy really hopes to use winter against us: to make winter cold and hardship part of his terror. We have to do everything to endure this winter, no matter how hard it is. And we will endure. To endure this winter is to defend everything.

Russia still has missiles and an advantage in artillery. Yes, but we have something that the occupier does not have and will not have. We defend our home, and that gives us the strongest motivation possible. We fight for freedom, and that always multiplies any force. We defend the truth, and this unites the whole world around Ukraine.

We see happy people when they meet the Ukrainian flag in liberated cities – wherever Ukraine returns. The people, the Armed Forces, all of us return. And this means they are waiting for us wherever there is still an occupation. They are waiting and they believe that Ukraine will return. They are waiting and they know very well: if Russia invades, it will not be forever.

To get through this winter, we have to help each other more than ever and care for each other even more. And please don’t ask if you can help, and how. Just help when you see you can.

To get through the winter, we have to be even more resilient and even more united than ever. There can be no internal conflicts and strife, which can weaken us all, even if someone out there thinks that somehow it will strengthen him personally. We need more interaction than ever. All of Ukraine has to become one big Point of Invincibility and work every day, work every night. The state, business, people – all of us, Ukrainians, all together.

This autumn, a lot was done to strengthen the position of the state and to make the occupier lose. We must do everything so that the same can be said after this winter. Ukrainians worked round the clock to restore normal life after the Russian strikes. And no matter how large-scale the terror of the occupiers was, our desire to restore everything in our home was always even greater. It should continue to be so.

Our defense forces firmly hold positions and even the most difficult directions. How many times have the occupiers planned to capture all of Donbas, to be in Bakhmut… How many times have they already announced new deadlines for their advance, their victories… Our guys are true heroes.

And this is our key task – both for the state and the people – to do everything to support our defense forces, to strengthen our defense forces, to find everything necessary for our defense forces in the world.

I know how difficult it is in Bakhmut, in Donbas. Guys, hold on! I am with you. The people are with you.

In order to carry out this task – to carry it out successfully – we must always support each other, precisely for this. And I thank everyone who helps strengthen Ukraine and who after this winter will definitely be able to say that the approach of our victory is also his or her personal result, a personal achievement.

Glory to all who fight for Ukraine and who work for Ukrainians!

Glory to our strong people!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 4 December 2022.

Dear Ukrainians, I wish you health!

I held another meeting of the Staff. The commanders reported on the situation in specific directions – in the most important directions.

In Donetsk region – Bakhmut, Soledar – now, as before, it’s the hottest, most painful. We do everything to help our boys in this direction. Our heroes who are holding the defense there. Everyone there deserves the highest gratitude!

And now I would like to separately thank the border guards of the Chop detachment, who are fighting near Bakhmut and today “landed” another plane of the occupiers.

Luhansk region and Kharkiv region – we’re strengthening our forces. South – we continue to erase the capabilities of the occupiers. Border – we’re strengthening the entire perimeter. Black Sea water area – we’re working so that finally Kalibr missiles could be at least at the bottom of the sea.

Of course, we discussed further steps in the area of total spiritual independence of Ukraine and protection of our state from informal networks of influence of the terrorist state.

A separate conversation at the meeting of the Staff is about energy. Recovery progress and object protection. We are constantly working on it.

The discussion on price caps, i.e. on limiting the export price of Russian oil, has ended in the world. Unfortunately, without big decisions, as you wouldn’t call it a big decision to set such a limit for Russian prices, which is quite comfortable for the budget of a terrorist state.

Russia has already caused huge losses to all countries of the world by deliberately destabilizing the energy market. And the world cannot dare its real energy disarmament. It’s a weak position.

And it’s only a matter of time when stronger tools will have to be used anyway. It is a pity that this time will be lost.

The logic is obvious: if the price limit for Russian oil is $60 instead of, for example, $30, which Poland and the Baltic countries talked about, then the Russian budget will receive about a hundred billion dollars a year.

This money will go not only to the war and not only to Russia’s further sponsoring of other terrorist regimes and organizations.

This money will also be used to further destabilize precisely those countries that are now trying to avoid big decisions.

Today, I held a meeting with the leaders of our foreign policy bloc.

We summed up the week and are preparing new events for December and January. Very powerful steps. Ukraine’s position will be heard, Ukraine’s interests will be realized despite everything.

And one more. Yesterday I spoke with students of universities: Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University. Three institutions out of many that keep the memory of Skovoroda and preserve Ukrainianness itself.

And today I also visited the exhibition “The World of Skovoroda” at the Ukrainian House in Kyiv.

And it is right that in such conditions, in such a year, events for the 300th anniversary of Skovoroda are taking place all over the country. It is right that there is strength, there is the strength to take care of Ukrainian in all its manifestations.

Because our victory is being achieved by the strength of arms and the strength of the spirit. The strength of the soldiers and the strength of the people. The strength of the state and the strength of culture. The strength of our unity is our ability to work together for the sake of Ukrainian interests and our ability to support each other. Support, because we are Ukrainians, and the strength of this argument alone should be enough for all of us.

Glory to all who fight for Ukraine!

Glory to all who work for our country!

Eternal memory and respect to all those who gave their lives for independence!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 3 December 2022.

Good night, dear Ukrainians!

It was a special day of a special week.

The nicest, the most symbolic thing is that today I had a privilege to honor with awards our heroes released from Russian captivity and members of our team – those who are working for the return of Ukrainians home.

Now I want to thank once again everyone who is doing this task. A total of 1,331 – so many have been already released during the full-scale war.

And we will not leave a single Ukrainian in Russian prisons, camps and “isolation.” We remember everyone. The day will come – we will welcome them again free.

All this week, we worked at various levels in European capitals in order to gain a critical mass of support for the launch of a special tribunal – a tribunal on Russian aggression.

London, Paris, Berlin, Warsaw and other capitals… We are strengthening our position everywhere, accumulating the support of our partners. I am sure that there will be a tribunal, there will be justice.

We are moving quite actively with regard to another point of the Ukrainian peace formula – food security. We use every day so that the world sees and feels that global stability is possible only together with Ukraine.

Today, the third vessel within the framework of our initiative Grain from Ukraine entered the port of Odesa. 25,000 tonnes of humanitarian wheat will be sent to Somalia. The second vessel, which is finishing loading in the port of Chornomorsk, will be heading to Ethiopia with 30,000 tonnes of wheat on board. Also, the first vessel under this program – Grain from Ukraine – is heading to Ethiopia.

And in general, by the end of spring, we will send about 60 vessels with such humanitarian cargo. It literally saves millions of people from starvation. And I am grateful to all our partners who joined the Ukrainian initiative.

Another initiative of ours – grain export – made it possible to bring almost 13 million tonnes of Ukrainian foodstuffs to the food market. A significant contribution to world security. We are doing everything to increase the supply.

Today, I want to mention all those who are returning normal life to the liberated areas, in particular to Kherson region and the city of Kherson. These are people from different regions – everyone has united, responded to the call for relief… These are our energy workers, builders, communications workers, repair crews, businesses, local leaders, mine clearance specialists.

More than 200 explosive devices were found in just a few days this week. Demining continues.

In Kherson region, every week there is more mobile communication coverage, more electricity and gas supply, more transport opportunities. Every week more access to normal medicine, educational and social services. Today, the broadcast of the Ukrainian telethon Edyni Novyny also started in Kherson.

I thank everyone who, despite constant Russian shelling and various attempts by terrorists to make difficulties for us, is doing everything so that Ukrainians can live – live normally.

And one more.

These days we celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Hryhorii Skovoroda – our philosopher, who taught happiness and self-knowledge, finding one’s true self in this world.

Today, I visited Pereiaslav, Kyiv region. Places where Skovoroda lived and taught.

It would be funny if it weren’t bitter that the occupiers are trying to steal this Ukrainian from Ukraine. They say something there, as if Skovoroda is theirs. But we know that they will not catch him. How it’s impossible to catch, stop, break and capture Ukraine.

These days we have taken some steps to guarantee the spiritual independence of our people. I see that people support these steps. And I see very powerful support.

And that’s not all. There will be more steps. Ukraine will never stop halfway again.

Glory to all who fight and work for our country!

I thank everyone who defends and helps our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 2 December 2022.

Free people of the indomitable country!

Every year on December 1, we recall an event that defined history. An event that said a lot about all of us, about Ukrainians. About who we are. And about who we will never become.

On December 1, 31 years ago, a referendum was held that united the entire territory of our state. None of our people remained outside the All-Ukrainian decision. Kyiv and Sevastopol, Odesa and Crimea, Lviv and Cherkasy, Chernihiv and Kharkiv, Donetsk and Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk, Khmelnytskyi and Kirovohrad regions, Volyn and Dnipropetrovsk regions, Sumy and Zakarpattia, Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil, Zhytomyr region and Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Kyiv region, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Rivne… Everyone expressed their support.

People confirmed the Act of Proclamation of Independence of Ukraine – freely and legally. It was a real referendum, not some kind of imitation. It was an honest referendum, and that is why it was recognized by the world.

And it was important that not just politicians, but people in particular put an end to the history of the empire, which was built on denying the will of the people. Which killed, trying to perpetuate the denial of the will of the people, but which was overthrown by people anyway. And precisely by their own will.

Since that day in 1991, Ukrainians have experienced many attempts to turn a dot into three dots or a semicolon. We saw many figures who could not put up with the fact that the empire had been overthrown.

We are still defending Ukraine against such “comrades” who wanted to celebrate the centenary of the empire this year instead of another anniversary of freedom. They wanted…

But Ukrainian rules will prevail.

Our desire to live freely expressed on August 24 and confirmed on December 1 will not be broken. Ukrainians will never again be gears of some empires. We have already gained it and we will ensure the full independence of our state.

We will ensure, in particular, spiritual independence. We will never allow anyone to build an empire inside the Ukrainian soul.

A meeting of the National Security and Defense Council was held today. The meeting at which we considered numerous facts of connections of certain religious circles in Ukraine with the aggressor state.

Unfortunately, even Russian terror and full-scale war did not convince some figures that it is worth overcoming the temptation of evil. Well, we have to create conditions where no actors dependent on the aggressor state will have an opportunity to manipulate Ukrainians and weaken Ukraine from within.

So, first. The National Security and Defense Council instructed the Government to submit to the Verkhovna Rada a draft law on making it impossible for religious organizations affiliated with centers of influence in the Russian Federation to operate in Ukraine.

Second. The State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience was commissioned to ensure the religious examination of the Management Statute of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the presence of a church-canonical connection with the Moscow Patriarchate and, if necessary, to take measures provided for by law.

Third. Ensure the verification of the presence of legal grounds and compliance with the conditions of use by religious organizations of the property located on the territory of the National Kyiv-Pechersk Historical and Cultural Reserve.

Fourth. All bodies responsible for ensuring national security must intensify measures to identify and counter the subversive activities of Russian special services in the religious environment of Ukraine. And apply personal sanctions – the surnames will be made public soon.

And fifth. We need to raise the status and strengthen the capabilities of the State Service for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience. This structure will be reformed, which will enable it to really protect the rights and legitimate interests of the Ukrainians and the state.

With these and other decisions, we guarantee Ukraine’s spiritual independence.

I would like to emphasize: in 1991, our state embarked on the legal and democratic path. We will continue this path. Only legal steps. Balanced decisions. And national interests.

Today, we continued to work on the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula, which I presented at the G19 summit, in particular its clause on food security. To this end, I spoke with the President of Senegal and the Chairperson of the African Union.

About our Grain From Ukraine initiative. This is an initiative that really brings stability and predictability back to the world. And also about the way we can involve African countries in restoring the strength of international law and guaranteeing the completeness of global security.

And one more thing. Today, another 50 Ukrainians were brought home from Russian captivity. Four officers, 46 sergeants and privates. Army, territorial defense, national guards, Navy and border guards. I thank our entire team, which works for the liberation of Ukrainians. Budanov, Yermak, Usov, Malyuk, Lubinets. Well done. I am grateful to everyone who helps!

In total, since February 24, more than 1,300 Ukrainians have already been returned from Russian captivity. We will bring back all the rest! All of Ukraine will be free. All Ukrainians will be at home.

Glory to all who fight for our country!

Glory to all who work to protect Ukraine!

Eternal memory to all those who gave their lives for independence!

Glory to Ukraine!

The statement made by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 1 December 2022.

Good health to you, fellow Ukrainians!

I held another meeting of the Staff today.

The main issues are the Donetsk region, Luhansk region, Kharkiv region, Zaporizhzhia region, Kherson region, Crimea, frontline territories and our state border. We are analyzing the intentions of the occupiers and are preparing a countermeasure – an even more powerful countermeasure than now.

We considered the issue of providing for the military and supplying new equipment and ammunition.

I separately held a meeting on energy and communication issues. We record the results of what has already been done to protect our systems. We are preparing new solutions.

We are also preparing new solutions to prevent any opportunity for Russia to manipulate the internal life of Ukraine. We will provide details in due time.

As of this evening, about 6 million subscribers in most regions of our country and in Kyiv are disconnected from electricity.

The situation remains very difficult in the capital, as well as in the Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Lviv, Odesa, Khmelnytskyi and Cherkasy regions.

Energy workers and utility workers, all our services are doing everything to stabilize the system and give people more energy for longer. And I want to emphasize once again: it is very important that people understand when and for what period of time they will be left without electricity.

This is the responsibility of both the energy companies themselves and local authorities. People have a right to know. And to the extent that it is possible now, the predictability of life should be ensured. People see that in neighboring houses or on nearby streets, for some reason, the rules regarding light are different. And there should be justice and clarity.

Today we have two very important pieces of international news.

Canada has successfully completed the issuance of special bonds – bonds of sovereign support of Ukraine. The volume is 500 million Canadian dollars.

In fact, Canada assumes this debt to help our nation. The funds will go to the state budget of Ukraine.

I am grateful to our Canadian friends and personally to Mr. Justin Trudeau and Mrs. Chrystia Freeland for this manifestation of Canadian leadership.

Leadership that demonstrates to other partners what can be effective right now to support Ukraine.

And news from Germany.

The Bundestag voted for a resolution recognizing the Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people. This is a decision for justice, for truth. And this is a very important signal to many other countries of the world that Russian revanchism will not succeed in rewriting history.

We would praise one more decision of Germany, which will certainly become historic, – to transfer the Patriot system to Ukraine. All generations of Ukrainians will thank Chancellor Scholz, as well as the entire generation of modern German politicians.

Glory to everyone who defends Ukraine!

Gratitude to everyone who helps our state!

Glory to Ukraine!