Dear Ukrainians!

This morning, the Russians launched a drone strike on a minibus in Kherson – another atrocity that the occupiers commit every day. It was absolutely clear that this was an ordinary minibus, this was civilian transport. But the Russians hit it anyway. In the afternoon of the same day, the Russians hit Zhytomyr – purposefully, meanly – on the police department building.

All day long – another day of war – strikes on Zaporizhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Donetsk, Dnipro regions. Unfortunately, there are casualties. In Kherson alone and from that one strike on a minibus alone, four people died. Almost 30 people were injured and two died from the strike on Zhytomyr. There are casualties, unfortunately, in other regions as well. My condolences to all the relatives and friends of those whose lives were taken by Russian terror.

My main task for the Minister of Defense of Ukraine in these conditions is to really adjust our defense system, the production and procurement system, the supply system to the troops. Such an adjustment so that the defense of life in Ukraine receives everything necessary to repel Russian strikes, to hold positions on the front and for our active actions and deliver tangible blows to Russia in response to its terror - to this war, to these murders, which Putin has turned into a new Russian ideology. We must uproot the roots of this ideology of war.

Yevhenii Khmara, during his service in Alpha, proved that he does not mince words and knows for sure that the occupiers are not fooled by empty promises. I expect that the Ministry of Defense will expand the scope of our deep strikes, together with Ukrainian weapons manufacturers, provide more opportunities to protect the Ukrainian sky, and together with partners, add opportunities to our defensive operations and our offensive actions. There is already good interaction between Khmara and Drapaty. Thank you for that. And before winter, we in Ukraine must be confident - and we will be confident - in our defense, in our positions as much as possible.

I am grateful to the parliamentarians for such tangible support today for Khmara for the post of Minister of Defense and for the support for Andriy Sybiga for the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Our diplomacy also has absolutely clear tasks, this concerns such communication with partners, which should provide Ukraine with more strength even in the conditions of political turbulence, which Europe may enter with the beginning of a new political season. We need stability of support, stability in relations with partners, and therefore, modernity in the work of the diplomatic corps: modern tools of diplomacy, modern approaches to resolving issues and very specific results.

Thank you also today for the adoption of the law, which we discussed in detail and which should expand support programs for one of the most vulnerable parts of our society - families with children with disabilities. The law guarantees increased support, and also introduces a multi-level system of social services for children at the expense of the state. I expect the law to be signed as soon as possible, and the government to fully take this into account in the budget.

And one more thing. I signed a decree awarding the title of Hero of Ukraine to Junior Lieutenant Vladislav Polsky for his quick and brave reaction in a combat situation and saving the lives of our soldiers. On August 15, this undoubtedly heroic event took place: Vladislav saved two guys from the zone of impact of Russian drones in a pickup truck. Our soldiers were performing a combat mission and were wounded. Evacuation was taking place using anti-aircraft missiles. The Russians hit this anti-aircraft missile. And in order not to lose people's lives and not to waste time, Vladislav decided to act and took the guys in a pickup truck. An outstanding story. Great courage. And an example of a commander's action that is worthy of imitation. We must take care of people. Thank you, Vladislav!

And today there was an exchange: we returned another 103 people from Russian captivity. Our soldiers. And it's not easy, but we continue to work to make the exchanges happen. We are preparing the next stage of exchanges.

Thank you to all our soldiers, to each and every one who defends Ukraine, who defends the people! It is important for all of us to work together for Ukraine, for our people. And we are preparing serious sanctions tomorrow.

Glory to Ukraine!