Robert Craig

Today is the Day of our Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A day honoring heroic, strong warriors. The Airborne Assault Forces are always where the fighting is most difficult. In all the most intense sectors of combat operations, in the most critical operations, they always make a significant contribution to the common result. Since the beginning of the full-scale war in 2022, and since 2014, Airborne Assault Forces units have taken part in many defensive and offensive operations, often securing the results Ukraine needed. We all thank the warriors of the Airborne Assault Forces for defending the Donetsk region, Kyiv, the south of Ukraine, Zaporizhzhia, and the Kharkiv region, and for their heroic participation in the Kursk operation, which for the first time brought this Russian war onto enemy territory. This year, the Airborne Assault Forces demonstrated active and exceptionally effective operations in the Oleksandrivskyi sector, which resulted in the liberation of more than 800 square kilometers. This is further confirmation of the high professionalism, courage, and strength of the Airborne Assault Forces. I thank every warrior of the Airborne Assault Forces for your service and everything you do for Ukraine. Happy Airborne Assault Forces Day! And, of course, we remember EVERY warrior, all our people who gave their lives defending Ukraine’s independence and our people. Ukraine exists because there are those who defend it and destroy the Russian occupiers. We will certainly defend Ukraine. We will certainly achieve peace for our country. And we certainly thank everyone who fights for Ukraine. Glory to the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine!

This morning, the Russians attacked Komyshuvakha with an FPV drone, where emergency rescue operations have been underway for seven days following an aerial bomb strike that killed 55 people. Unfortunately, more people may still be under the rubble. Absolute cynicism and brutality. There was also an overnight attack on the Dnipro region – the Russians struck energy infrastructure, leaving more than 600,000 people in Dnipro and the region without power. In the Kharkiv region, the situation is difficult too. There are widespread power outages across the country. In the Zhytomyr region alone, 140 apartment buildings were left without heating following a Russian strike. Repair work is underway in virtually every affected city and community. I thank the energy workers, utility workers, and every repair crew who are literally working 24/7 to restore water, electricity, and heating supplies to people. In total, this past week alone, Russia has launched 115 missiles of various types, nearly 1,900 guided aerial bombs, and more than 3,000 attack drones against our cities and communities. These are combined strikes involving many ballistic missiles. And a significant portion of the missiles were manufactured this year. We constantly provide our partners with information about Russian enterprises involved in ballistic missile production. In October, Ukraine imposed major sanctions packages on the individuals and legal entities involved. It is very important that they be synchronized across Europe and G7 jurisdictions. If the world does not have enough anti-ballistic capabilities to protect Ukrainian skies, then the missiles must be stopped on the production lines. We count on a strong 22nd EU sanctions package. Thank you to all partners who are truly helping.

I held a coordination call on the aftermath of Russia’s attack and recovery efforts after the strikes. In tonight’s attack, Russia used 36 missiles approaching their targets along a ballistic trajectory. Only four missiles were taken down. Unfortunately, there is still a significant shortage of interceptors for Patriot systems, and the United States is in the best position to help address it. At every level, we are looking for ways to speed up deliveries and get the necessary messages across to the American side – so that Ukraine receives the means to protect lives. This is especially important right now – not just ahead of winter, but also ahead of another joint effort with our partners to reinvigorate negotiations. Russia has a very particular view of diplomacy – as a subtype of aggression. By intensifying its attacks on Ukraine and our infrastructure at this very moment, Russia is trying to additionally lay the groundwork for putting pressure on Ukraine’s position and that of its partners. We hope that the United States, like our other partners, will act on principle. Technical assessments are ongoing at the sites hit by ballistic missiles. According to preliminary findings, at one of the key energy facilities that was damaged, the Russians used KN-23 missiles manufactured and supplied by North Korea. This is further proof that global sanctions regimes need to be significantly strengthened – against everyone in the world who provides their “services” in destroying lives. There were detailed briefings on the challenges Kyiv is facing. I instructed Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Vyhivskyi, together with all the relevant agencies and the Kyiv City Administration, to prepare backup transport routes and additional transport for Kyiv. At present, such contingency plans are practically nonexistent at the city level. Ukraine’s Prime Minister Sergii Koretskyi delivered detailed briefings on the restoration of energy facilities and the forces involved. The military also briefed me on the use of electronic warfare, and we defined areas for scaling up. There was also a separate briefing from Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Meetings in the G7 format are being prepared, and Ukraine will be represented. We are counting on new contributions from European countries to the PURL initiative – there are preliminary commitments. There will also be new energy support packages for Ukraine, as well as new deliveries to support our logistics. Thank you to everyone who is helping! Thank you to each and every person doing effective work for Ukraine and for recovery after Russia’s strikes.

Russia is preparing for trilateral talks by launching ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s critical infrastructure. Repair and rescue operations are underway in the affected regions wherever the security situation allows. In total, the Russians used 172 drones and 36 ballistic missiles, with all the missiles aimed at Kyiv and the surrounding region. Energy infrastructure was once again the main target. The capital is facing serious difficulties with its electricity, water, and heat supplies. Residential buildings and the Northern Bridge were damaged. A kindergarten was partially destroyed. In the Kyiv region, a substation connecting the Rivne and Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plants to Kyiv and Ukraine’s central regions was hit. Substations were also damaged in the Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Rivne, Kharkiv, and Dnipro regions. In addition to Kyiv, twelve other regions came under attack. Nine people were injured, including one child. I thank all our people who defend the country against this terror every day, work to restore what has been damaged, and do everything they can to get Ukraine through the winter. But when Russia is trying to plunge Kyiv – a city of millions – and the entire country into a blackout, Ukraine must not be left alone. We are counting on increased bilateral support from the United States. We are counting on the U.S. Congress to give more attention to Ukraine, because Russia keeps increasing the number of its attacks. It is important that support for Ukraine remains among the priorities of U.S. policy. We are counting on both parties to stand united on matters of security, support for Ukraine, condemnation of Russian aggression, and increased sanctions pressure on Putin. America’s resolve and consistency in supporting Ukraine are crucial in bringing peace closer.