We continue bringing Ukrainians home from Russian captivity. Today, 160 servicemembers were released from captivity. All of them had been held captive since 2022.
Among those released today are servicemembers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, National Guard warriors, and border guards. They defended Ukraine in Mariupol and at Azovstal, as well as in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy sectors.
I thank our entire team, which works every day to bring our people back. Special gratitude to all our units on the frontline who replenish Ukraine’s “exchange fund” and, through their courage, make it possible for us to bring people home. We remember everyone who remains in captivity. We are checking every name. We must bring everyone back – both military personnel and civilians.
Today, no one on Earth can say that we are not fighting for Crimea or that we have forgotten about Crimea. Every day proves that Ukraine remembers every part of its land, every one of its people, and is truly fighting to ensure justice for our entire state and every integral part of it.
Russia brought its war to Ukraine, starting nowhere other than Crimea, and now, with our actions – medium-range sanctions against the Russian occupier, our long-range sanctions plan, and all other forms of pressure on the aggressor – we are doing everything to force Russia to end the war and restore justice. And it is Crimea that is at the center of this policy of ensuring justice. Russia turned Crimea into a launchpad for aggressive operations against other parts of our country and against other nations. For a very long time, Russia has tried to normalize its war – to make Ukraine, all of Europe, and the world accept that its aggression supposedly cannot be stopped and that justice supposedly cannot be restored.
Today, Ukraine is depriving Russia of this launchpad and drawing a line under its attempts to normalize war. And in doing so, we remember that justice for Ukraine also means justice for the Crimean Tatar people – a people forced to endure deportation and decades of oppression, a people who were able to return to their homeland, but whose home the Russians tried to steal again, a people who have preserved their vitality and remain an inseparable part of our society.
Today, as we honor the blue banner with the golden tamğa – this proud flag that unites the entire Crimean Tatar people – we affirm that Ukraine is fighting for itself and all its lands, defending justice for itself and all its people – for everyone who calls Ukraine and our Crimea their home. We must stop Russian aggression. We must bring freedom back to all those who are currently in Russian captivity. We must guarantee security and a reliable peace for the entirety of our state and all our people.
Qırımtatar Milliy Bayraq künü hayırlı olsun!
Glory to Ukraine!
Our intelligence has obtained important findings regarding the situation in Crimea and in our other territories currently under Russian occupation. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service has obtained data indicating that the crisis with fuel, military logistics, and governance in Crimea is deepening on a virtually daily basis. The Russian occupation administration quite clearly and unequivocally acknowledges its inability to resolve the problems created by our mid-range sanctions against the occupier, as well as by the implementation of our long-range sanctions plan, primarily against Russian oil refining. A similar situation is unfolding in other Russian regions as well.
We have also obtained internal Russian documents assessing the public mood among citizens of the aggressor state. At present, the level of anxiety among Russians is already higher than it was during our Kursk operation: more than 50 percent. Already, 66 percent of Russians consider their financial situation difficult. More than 80 percent of Russians believe a large-scale economic crisis in Russia is inevitable. These are absolutely clear indicators that reflect the failure of Putin’s war policy.
Separately, Oleh Luhovskyi reported on measures being carried out in Belarus, under obvious Russian influence, to prepare for a potential expansion of aggression against Ukraine. Along our state border in Belarus, the construction of road infrastructure and storage bases for ammunition and fuel and lubricants is nearing completion. These facilities have no purpose other than a military one. These are the border directions of Kobryn–Kovel, Ivanava–Manevychi, Luninets–Sarny, Rečyca–Korosten, and Homieĺ–Chernihiv. We know that Russian documents describe this specifically in the context of the tasks of the so-called “SVO.”
Belarus has received the necessary signals from Ukraine regarding this activity, as well as regarding all other formats of its collaboration with Russia in the interests of prolonging and scaling up the war. Belarus knows what steps it must take for peace. The development of border infrastructure for aggression from Belarus must be stopped. It is the Belarusian side that must take steps toward de-escalation and peace. Thank you to everyone who helps us protect lives and our independence! Glory to Ukraine!
It will be at least 40 years before our loved and lovely America recovers from the wounds this selfish, stupid, and ego-driven man has inflicted. That it will recover seems certain to me, but it will leave scars.
It can take many leaders years to grow into the statesman you became in just two years.
European and Ukrainian security is stronger because of you.
Thank you, dear Keir.
Keir, thank you for all our cooperation, your support, and the joint decisions that have helped make our Europe and our protection of life stronger.
The United Kingdom has been, is, and will remain among the world’s leaders. Here in Ukraine, we deeply value Britain, and every meeting and every conversation we have had has always been filled with real substance.
Thank you for always being in touch, always engaged, and always striving to do what is needed and what will truly help.
I wish the United Kingdom and all British people every success as well as realisation of your national goals. We have confidence in Britain.
Keir, you are always a welcome guest in Ukraine.
@Keir_Starmer