I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
The most important. The front. There was a report from the Commander-in-Chief. The Pokrovsk and other directions in the Donetsk region. The situation is extremely difficult, the key Russian efforts and their largest forces are concentrated there, and the resilience of each of our units, our ability to destroy the occupier, are now very important. I want to thank every soldier, every commander who is holding their positions. The Commander-in-Chief also reported on our operation in the Kursk region. We continue to expand the territory under our control in the designated areas near the border of Ukraine. Today, as every day, our exchange fund has also been replenished. Thank you, warriors! This is something that will help bring home many of our people from Russian captivity. We must also understand now that all the pressure we have transferred to Russia means that they cannot put any more pressure on our Donetsk region.
Today, the reports were also made by the Minister of Energy. On the recovery after the Russian strikes. Repair crews, the relevant municipal services and state agencies are working as hard as they can. We must achieve deficit reduction. And I thank everyone who is working for this cause.
Today I also held a long meeting with Government officials on preparations for the new school year. The priority is obvious. Wherever possible, children should go to school offline this year. The Government, regional authorities and communities must ensure all the conditions for this. And this is an absolute strategic priority, it is about preserving normalcy in Ukraine, preserving opportunities for children to receive a proper education. All Government officials have absolutely clear tasks. The maximum number of schools should be opened, and the necessary decisions for this are clear to the Government.
Today I met with the delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. I thanked them for supporting our society and our state. And we will continue to do everything to ensure that Ukraine increases its potential in everything and strengthens its independence.
A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council was also held. The Minister of Defense of Ukraine informed our partners about our most urgent needs at the moment. And in particular, in air defense, in the protection of critical infrastructure. Today, throughout the day, the consequences of the Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih are being eliminated – it was ballistics again. There was a strike of the guided aerial bomb on Kupyansk – right in the center of the city, people were under the rubble. Unfortunately, some people died. My condolences to their families and friends. All our partners should be more active – much more active – in countering Russian terror. This terror must never become some kind of new alleged “normalcy” for Europe. In addition, we are working with partners to supply the frontline – supply it not only with weapons, and not only with shells, but also with the power of our unity with partners. Truly effective unity – long-ranged. We continue to insist that their determination now – lifting the restrictions on long-range strikes for Ukraine now – will help us to end the war as soon as possible in a fair way for Ukraine and the world as a whole. The defense of life has the same meaning everywhere. I thank everyone in the world who is helping us!
Glory to Ukraine!