It was from Russia that the first missiles and the first drones came, and they crossed our country’s border from Russian airspace. This escalation cannot and will not remain confined to Ukrainian territory. Today, we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe. Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation as such – not a single civilian aircraft. There will simply be drones in Russia’s skies on a scale that has to be taken into account. Although the Russian authorities are not properly informing people about this, Russian airspace will effectively be closing – the war started by Russia is closing its skies. We in Ukraine do not want innocent lives to be lost. That is why we are warning our partners: the safe days in Russia’s skies are over. It is important that this is heard by the ambassadors of countries represented here in Ukraine, as well as by ambassadors working in Moscow. Every one of them knows exactly what Russia’s war means for our country and our people, and they must convey this information to their capitals. It is important that the airlines currently flying to airports primarily in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other key destinations in Russia hear this as well. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and our other institutions will provide international organizations with full information about the dangers in Russian airspace. Drone-infested skies are no place for civilian aviation. From the evening address.

Ukraine is a country of peace. And we truly respect the fact that our partners want to help bring this war to an end. We support every such effort. When the Americans asked us to pause strikes on Moscow and St. Petersburg on August 25, 26, and 27, we observed that pause. There were no strikes on Russia, while strikes on Ukraine continued. When another global power asked us to pause strikes in the direction of Vladivostok for a specified period of time, we agreed to ensure that as well. New meetings in Moscow are now being prepared, and we will take that into account. We always support every step toward peace – every step to prevent Russia from making this war endless. The war needs to end, and leaders are right to tell Putin this. So, for the sake of diplomacy and negotiations, whenever our partners approach us about this, we will ensure that Russian skies are cleared of drones for specified periods of time and along specified routes. Safety will return to Russia’s skies when there is real movement toward peace. For now, the skies over Russia are for drones – not for civilian aviation.

Today, many were shocked by yet another video of the drone “safari” Russians are carrying out against civilians in Kherson. A Russian drone deliberately hunted down a man selling vegetables and detonated right next to him. The Russians even admitted to the crime, showing zero regret and openly boasting about tormenting people. The man was wounded in the blast. Every single day, ordinary people in Kherson face these Russian "safaris." The world must see this. It must see every piece of evidence that Russia has gone mad and that its soldiers take pleasure in killing and abusing civilians. Without pressure on Russia, the dismantling of its capacity for aggression, and real security guarantees, it is simply impossible to imagine the world being able to coexist with this evil. We must remain resolute in defending life. We must act and support life in ways that force Russia to seriously think about peace rather than expanding the range of its drones. This is not just about Ukraine. Russia’s campaign against human life must be stopped here in Ukraine before it spreads further. Finland and Kazakhstan, the Baltic states and Poland, the countries of the South Caucasus, Romania, and Moldova—all should work together to ensure real security guarantees and bring Russia’s war to an end. Peace is needed, which requires cooperation among everyone in the world who truly values peace. Thank you to everyone standing with Ukraine!

Today, the Russians used their ballistic missile to destroy an ordinary house belonging to an ordinary family in Radushne, near Kryvyi Rih, in our Dnipro region. It was the Voronov family: mother Olena, father Artem, seven children – Mark, Dominika, Zakharii, Azarii Ilai, Federica, Emilia, and Viorika – and one-and-a-half-year-old grandson Artem, the child of their eldest son, who is now defending Ukraine. As of now, it has been confirmed that parents and three children – Mark, Azarii Ilai, and Emilia – were killed. The Russian missile struck with such force that almost nothing was left of the house… Fragments of human bodies were found under the rubble, and only forensic examinations can establish which members of the family they belong to. The fate of Zakharii, Dominika, Viorika, Federica, and Artem is still being determined… It is a horrific crime of Russia’s war against Ukraine – against ordinary people, against ordinary life. This Russian evil can only be stopped by the whole world. No one in the world can be left to face such terror alone. And when we say that Ukraine needs missiles for Patriots, when we seek the capabilities to defend ourselves against Russian ballistic missiles, this isn’t about abstractions. We are talking about families like this, people like these, who can live if we have the means to shoot down Russian missiles – if our partners help us with interceptors. Families who can be killed if we have nothing to stop Russian Iskanders with. It is important that these people are seen by those who make decisions – decisions at the Pentagon, in European capitals, and everywhere in the world where there is an opportunity to help Ukraine protect lives. Reality speaks for itself. Protecting lives is necessary. Air defense missiles are necessary. Eternal memory to all Ukrainians who were killed by Russian strikes… Eternal gratitude to everyone who helps!