This winter, Russia will again try to destroy our energy system – Zelenskyy
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy chaired a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief’s Staff to discuss the situation at the front and the winter period under Russian attacks on critical infrastructure.
The Ukrainian leader said this in a video address on October 6.
He began by saying that he had held a meeting of the Security Council, which was “long” and had “several key issues” on the agenda.
– The first was, of course, the front. The situation on the main fronts, reports from the commanders, the supply of shells and air defense,” he said.
“The second issue of the meeting was directly related to defense and Ukraine’s resilience: they discussed energy and winterization, as well as the protection of Ukrainian generation facilities and the provision of electricity and heat, and the restoration of everything damaged by Russian strikes and hostilities.
– The current Russian leadership always does what it has done before. They repeat all their mistakes. They repeat all the evil. And when they fail, they think that they have allegedly done too little evil to succeed. This is crazy logic. But we have to take it into account. This winter, Russian terrorists will try to destroy our energy system again. They cannot accept the idea that Ukraine will not be conquered anyway. But they will try to make more attacks and more attempts to circumvent our defense. We are fully aware of the danger,” he said.
The Head of State added that the meeting had also heard reports from the military and all officials responsible for the protection of Ukraine’s energy sector and winter tactics.
– Everything related to the physical protection of facilities, reconstruction, execution of orders, and the procedure for dealing with certain emergencies,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader added that “it is very important to win this winter, to go through all the difficulties and provide protection to our people.” In addition, he warned local authorities that they must do their part in preparations.
The President added that the current state of winterization in the regions would be recorded next week.
– “We are taking even more steps to strengthen our air defense and to cooperate with partners for the sake of the resilience of the Ukrainian energy sector. This week has already significantly strengthened us,” he added.
The Head of State reminded that over the past week, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the President of France had provided or announced their plans to provide support to Ukraine in one form or another. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked all the countries and their leaders who help Ukraine.
– “We also cooperate fruitfully with the European Union. From all points of view, it is important for us to start negotiations on EU membership this year. Ukraine has almost fulfilled the relevant seven recommendations of the European Commission, and everything will be ready on our part. There is only one step left for the Verkhovna Rada to take, and it is crucial that MPs take this step.
For Ukraine, the EU is not only about economic security and a powerful contribution to geopolitical stability. It is also a motivation. Motivation for us, for our soldiers, for our entire nation. Motivation to fight, to be resilient, to get through this winter and achieve our national goals despite any Russian terror,” he said.
Separately, the President focused on the issue of the Kharkiv region, where Russia launched a brutal attack on a village in the Kupiansk district yesterday, October 5, killing 51 people and leaving three others unaccounted for.
Zelenskyy also mentioned a strike in the very center of Kharkiv, which killed two people from the same family.
– A 10-year-old boy and his grandmother. The boy’s younger brother – he is only 11 months old – and his parents are in the hospital. My condolences to everyone whose relatives and friends were killed by Russia,” the President said.
The Ukrainian leader said that yesterday and today, leaders of states and foreign ministers expressed condolences and condemned Russian terror.
– “I am grateful to each and every person who does not remain indifferent. Only together, in unity, can we overcome terror. And we will do it. States and leaders, nations,” he said.
The President noted that many journalists, public figures and ordinary people have supported Ukraine now and have been supporting it throughout this war, and Ukraine “extremely appreciates every manifestation of support, every manifestation of solidarity with us.”
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s victory over Russian terror will be a common victory for all people of the world who, like Ukrainians, believe that evil and hatred must always lose.
