"The aggressor felt that he was losing and is trying to delay this moment, to ensure some activity on the front." Address of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi

27.09.2022 09:16

Photo by president.gov.ua

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the people, talking about the project of establishing a special international tribunal to punish Russia for aggression and about the acute situation in Donetsk region.

"I wish you health, dear Ukrainians!

He held another meeting of the Stavka today. The main focus is on the operational situation on the front line. They heard the Commander-in-Chief, commanders, the head of intelligence, the Minister of Defense. They discussed the use of new weapons by the occupiers, in particular, Iranian drones.

We are constantly working to provide our soldiers with weapons and ammunition. All active actions of the Ukrainian military must be synchronized with the use of high-precision weapons. This is one of the basic priorities.

The situation is particularly acute in Donetsk region. We are doing everything to curb enemy activity. That is where our number one goal is right now, as Donbas is still the number one goal for the occupiers.

Despite the obvious senselessness of the war for Russia and the loss of the initiative by the occupiers, the command of the Russian military still drives them to their death. Constant attempts of the Russian offensive on Donetsk region will surely go down in the history of wars as one of the most cynical murders of its own soldiers. When we see this, when we see these offensives, we are once again convinced that the Russian mobilization is a frank attempt to give commanders on the ground a constant stream of cannon fodder. There is simply no other meaning in the Russian mobilization.

They felt that they were going to lose, and they are simply trying to delay this moment, to ensure at least some activity at the front, to put at least someone with a weapon in their hands instead of the dead.

Unfortunately, Russian society is not yet aware of all the brutality of the Russian government towards its own people. But we must do everything so that every citizen of Russia recognizes that his own state is depriving him of the most important thing - the right to life.

Spoke today with Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands. And about the criminal mobilization that Russia is conducting, in particular, in the occupied territory, trying to throw our citizens to death under the Russian flag. And they also talked about pseudo-referendums - the world's reaction to them and to any further steps taken by the occupiers will be harsh.

I thank the Prime Minister for his clear support and willingness to increase sanctions pressure on Russia. We coordinated our steps in international organizations, discussed defense cooperation.

He held a meeting with the head of our government, Denys Shmyhal. Summarized the results of our international activity in September, the results of contacts with partners.

No matter how difficult it is, the state fulfills all its social obligations. We work within the framework of Fast Recovery, returning normal life to the territory freed from the occupiers. We are taking the necessary steps in preparation for the winter period.

Took part in the launch of a special investment fund to support our Ukrainian entrepreneurs and export-oriented companies. The fund has already attracted 125 million dollars, and the amount will be doubled. The most respectable Western funds, banks and institutions have invested in this fund, Horizon Capital Growth, as it is called.

I thank everyone who prepared and implemented this investment project. And I believe that it can become a special signal for investors - a signal that it is possible and necessary to invest in the Ukrainian economy now that we are on the path to our victory.

An important political and diplomatic event took place in the Office today. The ambassadors of thirty states — our partners — were presented with a project on the establishment of a special international tribunal to punish Russia for the crime of aggression against our state.

The difficulty of prosecuting Russia for this crime is that the existing international legal instruments are not sufficient. What is needed is a special international tribunal. And we are working on this project in great detail and meticulously. I have no doubt that there will be a tribunal. There will be responsibility for everyone who unleashed this criminal war against Ukraine and freedom in Europe.

I thank everyone who protects our country! Today I especially want to celebrate the soldiers who are currently defending Ukraine in Donetsk region. Fighters of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade "Kholodny Yar" and the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade — for heroic defense in the Bakhmut direction. And I also want to recognize the soldiers of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade for their decisive and competent actions during the liberation of our territory. Thank you guys!

A total of 2135 soldiers of these three brigades have already been awarded state awards.

Eternal glory to all those who win for Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!"