Dear Ukrainians!
Today, we managed to return home 209 of our people – 205 military personnel who were in captivity, most of them from 22nd year. And four more civilians who were captured by the Russians last year in the Sumy direction. This exchange is the first stage of a large coordinated exchange that we agreed on – in the format of 1000 for 1000. We are working to ensure that there are subsequent stages – it is always one of the best and most encouraging news when our people return home from captivity. I want to thank the mediators – the United States of America, we spoke with them on the eve of May 9, the political guarantee that the agreements will be implemented.
I would like to separately mention all our soldiers who, with their courageous actions at the front, ensure that Ukraine's "exchange fund" is replenished. Every Ukrainian unit that ensures this result helps return people home from captivity.
Today there was a detailed meeting with our intelligence services - the GUR and Foreign Intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine and the General Staff of Ukraine. Several important things. Of course, we must respond fairly and noticeably to all Russian strikes on our cities and villages. I agreed on some formats for responses. Last night, the enemy already saw hits, in particular on their oil facilities and military facilities. We continue the operations.
There is also good work by our intelligence. First, we clearly understand what is being discussed between Russia and the leadership of Belarus. The Russians have become more active now - I mean in a conversation with Alexander Lukashenko. They want to draw Belarus into the war much more and launch additional aggressive operations from the territory of Belarus - either against our Chernihiv-Kyiv direction, or against one of the NATO countries that are next to Belarus. Of course, we will continue to defend Ukraine, protect our people, Ukrainians - I instructed our Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine to prepare a response plan, and at the Headquarters we will consider and approve it. We will strengthen the Chernihiv-Kyiv direction. The partners also know what is happening and what Belarus is being inclined to do. We also have Russian documents that propose targets for strikes on Kyiv, strikes on Kyiv and other our cities – on political and military facilities, where the army leadership, the government may be, and here – on Bankova Street. They have been hatching this plan for a long time – now, after Iran, they have become more active again – they are looking for where we are, where we are. The same goes for other people from the Ukrainian leadership, from intelligence, our special services. Some there, in Moscow, still haven’t understood that Ukrainians will never give up their independence, and in any case – on Bankova Street or without Bankova Street – we will not give up our land, our sovereignty, our state.
One more thing. This morning I was at the place in Kyiv where the Russians destroyed a house, an ordinary house, a residential one: with their X-101 missile they actually demolished the entrance, nine floors, the remains of the missile were found in the basement of the house. 24 people died. Among them are three children. Ordinary people. They were simply at home, unfortunately. My condolences to their relatives and friends. It is important that the world does not remain silent about such attacks, it is important that support for Ukraine is maintained. This support is not so that we take away what belongs to others, this is support so that Ukrainians can protect their own - their freedom, their lives. We will definitely protect Ukraine! Whatever the threats - Ukraine is and will be. Russia must end this war of its own. Peace is needed.
Glory to Ukraine!