Since the American President announced the energy ceasefire a week ago, Russia has deliberately attacked Ukraine’s energy and oil and gas sectors 76 times. Last night alone, there were strikes on substations in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Odesa regions. Tens of thousands of families remain without power. Energy workers and repair crews are working virtually around the clock to restore electricity supply. Overnight, the Russians also struck residential buildings in our regions. As of now, 12 people have been reported injured, including two children. Two people have been killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. This morning, there was a strike on an agricultural enterprise in Volyn. All necessary services are working at the site. In total, over this past week, the Russians have attacked Ukraine with almost 2,700 attack drones, 1,700 aerial bombs, and 66 missiles, most of them ballistic. The main targets of these strikes are energy facilities – the Russians are trying to cause a blackout. And America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements. On the contrary, they take every signal of an opportunity to make money as proof that their bet on war is paying off and they can keep fighting. It is because of this position of Russia’s that the war continues, not because Ukraine is rightfully defending itself. It is Russia that must face pressure for peace to have a chance. Thank you to everyone who understands this and helps.

The trend this year continues – since the start of fall, our warriors have liberated more territory than the Russians have managed to capture. The same was true at other points this year. We continue to press the Russians at the front. Dobropillia, Kostiantynivka, Oleksiievo-Druzhkivka, Orikhiv, Novopavlivka, Novoandriivka, and Velykomykhailivka are all under Ukrainian control. We are also defending the areas near Kramatorsk and destroying Russian forces 20 kilometers from Zaporizhzhia, not 5, as someone over there in Russia is snowing Putin. Our front is strong, and I thank every warrior and every one of our units that is carrying out its tasks in full.

We believe this war will be over as soon as possible. But Putin plans to stick around much longer. He is building a Russia that looks like North Korea – where children are raised from an early age for war and to die for their leader. So Russia will not stop being dangerous. And it is our – Ukrainian – strength, our army, our technologies that help guarantee also European security, your security. These security guarantees are not yet reflected – we think – in your budget from 2028 onward. Let’s get serious about this. Let’s work out exactly how Ukraine’s defense capabilities should be included in that budget. From an address to the participants of the European Council meeting. (5/5)

Yesterday, the Russians carried out one of their largest attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector – more than 15 critical power generation and transmission facilities were targeted across different regions of Ukraine. Restoration work is ongoing, with all necessary services and all available resources of Ukrainian energy companies involved. I thank everyone working practically nonstop to restore power. The most difficult situation was in Lutsk, Rivne, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Shepetivka, Slavuta, and Netishyn. Energy facilities in the Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipro, and other regions were also hit. The Russians have scaled up their anti-energy operation and are trying to stretch our reserves and repair capabilities as thin as possible. Between 7 p.m. yesterday and 7 a.m. today alone, more than 320 jet-powered and gasoline-powered “shaheds,” along with loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, were used against our energy sector, our cities, and our communities. And although our warriors are shooting down a significant number of them, the sheer scale and unrelenting pace of Russia’s strikes, specifically against our energy sector, are unfortunately having severe consequences. It is important that our European partners have already prepared new support packages for Ukraine. I am grateful to them for this. And it is important that everyone in America also sees what is really happening. At a time when the Russians have carried out such a massive attack on our energy sector, a decision was unfortunately made in America to completely disregard the Lindsey Graham Act, which was supposed to impose truly effective pressure on Russia to bring this war to an end. This Act could have helped enormously – and still can! But it needs to actually work, and every voice in support of it matters. Russia is trying to cause a blackout in Ukraine – right before winter. Russia is trying to leave millions of our people without electricity and heating. Pressure is needed to stop this. A U.S. sanctions blackout, easing pressure on the aggressor, financial rewards for Putin – all of this only encourages him to keep attacking. We must not give up ground. We must keep trying to end the war. To end it, not give Putin every reason to continue it indefinitely. I thank everyone who is truly fighting for peace and helping Ukraine!

Жахливий російський удар реактивним «шахедом» по звичайному магазину на Одещині. Росія продовжує свій кривавий терор. Магазин частково зруйновано, пошкоджені автомобілі. Троє людей поранені. На місці працюють усі необхідні служби, надають допомогу постраждалим. Важливо, щоб партнери допомагали від цього захищатися. Фактично постійно під ударами житлові будинки, магазини, енергетика та інша критична інфраструктура. Жодної години тиші. Те, що відбувається, – це показова реакція Росії на сигнали, які вона отримує від Америки. На жаль, небезпечні сигнали щодо можливого подальшого зняття санкцій. Ці санкції накладались світом, Америкою, Європою, нашими партнерами. Санкції за агресію проти України, за війну проти нас. Нічого не змінилось, війна не зупинилась. Санкції не повинні бути зняті. Росія має закінчити різанину, яку сама розпочала й продовжує вже 1695 днів. Додаткові гроші для вбивств цьому не сприятимуть. Потрібна сила, і Америка сильніша, ніж російський терор.

A horrific Russian jet-powered “shahed” attack on an ordinary store in the Odesa region. Russia continues its bloody terror. The store was partially destroyed, and cars were damaged. Three people were injured. All necessary emergency services are working at the scene and providing assistance to those affected. It is important that our partners help us defend against this. Residential buildings, stores, energy and other critical infrastructure are under attack virtually nonstop. Not a single hour of peace. What is happening is Russia’s pointed response to the signals it is receiving from America. Unfortunately, there are dangerous signals about the possibility of further sanctions relief. These sanctions were imposed by the world, by America, Europe, and our partners in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and its war against us. Nothing has changed. The war has not stopped. The sanctions must not be lifted. Russia must end the slaughter it itself started and has continued for 1,695 days now. More money to fund the killing will not help bring this about. Strength is what is needed, and America is stronger than Russian terror.