I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!
A lot of purely military issues were on the agenda today. I held a Staff meeting, including on our electronic warfare capabilities, and we will expand this specific component of critical infrastructure protection. Additional tasks have been set for manufacturers, the Ministry of Defense, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A significant share of Russian “shaheds” are neutralized precisely by our electronic warfare systems. Today’s Staff meeting also covered the key issues involved in preparing Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities for next year: funding, volumes, and our ability to respond in kind to every Russian operation against Ukraine, against our people. Second, our intelligence and special services are now working to establish all available information about yet another attack in the Black Sea targeting civilian vessels. Two civilian vessels were attacked in Bulgarian waters last night. One sank, while the other sustained significant damage. We express our sympathy to everyone affected. Ukraine’s Defense Forces conducted no operations in this area of the sea, and this latest tragedy involving civilian vessels is another part of Russia’s effort to make the western Black Sea completely unfit for navigation. We verified all the details with the Bulgarian side. Our Navy contacted its counterparts in Bulgaria, and it has been established that this was a combined Russian attack using maritime and aerial drones. I instructed our Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, our intelligence, and other services to coordinate with our partners as fully as possible – so that both they and we have greater capacity to defend ourselves. I thank everyone who is taking a principled stand in response to these Russian attacks. A vessel was hit in Romanian waters the other day; now it’s Bulgaria. This is exactly what the Russians are planning – to keep escalating. Their drones are constantly flying into Moldova. And this is not the first attack on vessels in the Black Sea, in the waters of our partners. Attacks on our ports continue constantly. And there must be a clear response to the aggressiveness Russia is showing. Absolutely clear action is needed in response.
One more thing.
We’ve got updated intel on Russia’s preparations for a massive strike. I ask you, please, to take care of yourselves. Please respond to missile threat alerts. Ukrainian services and our Air Force are ready to respond – as much as our defenses allow. And a lot depends on our partners – every leader and every country in the world that has the defensive capabilities we need and can provide them to us. It’s very important that there be the political will to do this – particularly in the United States, particularly in Europe, and particularly in other partner countries. The world is greater than Russian evil, and protecting life must be a shared responsibility. I thank everyone who is truly helping! I thank everyone who stands with us, with Ukraine!
Glory to Ukraine!