Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

All week long – just like every week after the shelling, after Russian strikes – our rescuers are always there, always helping our people. And we are always grateful to them – all the personnel of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

Today, I especially want to recognize our rescuers working in the Donetsk region, particularly those who assisted our people in Dobropillya – Dmytro Aharkov, Artem Bernada, Yevhenii Osadchyi, Dmytro Litovchenko, Oleksandr Masliuk – thank you, guys! Also, Andrii Zemlianyi, Serhii Konov, Denys Sukhanov, Volodymyr Allik, Serhii Usov, and the entire State Emergency Service team in the Donetsk region. And in the Kharkiv region – Oleksii Makushenko, Kyrylo Shvachka, Andrii Oliinyk, Oleksandr Rabcheniuk, Maksym Adamovych, Roman Veretelnyk, Andrii Valuiev, Pavlo Sarancha, Andrii Tur, and Yurii Denchyk. Thank you so much! Thank you to everyone working for Ukraine and Ukrainians! Thank you to all our Ukrainian warriors!

Glory to Ukraine!

Today, throughout the day, rescue efforts continued in the city of Dobropillya in the Donetsk region after the Russian strike. It was one of the most brutal strikes, a combined one. The strike was deliberately calculated to cause maximum damage. Missiles, along with a “Shahed” drone, targeted the central part of the city. Nine residential buildings were hit. Also, the shopping center and stores were struck.

Tragically, eleven people were killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Among the victims is an employee of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The second strike occurred when the rescuers started working. 50 people were wounded. All of them received the necessary assistance. Among the wounded are seven children, the youngest is a 10-year-old girl.

There were also other shellings today in the Donetsk region, as well as the Kharkiv and our southern regions. In Kherson, there was another strike by FPV drones on civilians. Literally every day, Russia proves with its cruelty that nothing has changed for them in Moscow. They are thinking not about how to end the war, but about how to destroy and capture more as long as the world allows them to keep waging this war.

Of course, we are doing our utmost to protect lives. And I am grateful to all the leaders, all those diplomats of our partner countries, all public figures who support Ukraine, who have condemned these Russian strikes and who call all things by their proper names. And it is essential that we continue coordinating all our efforts with our partners to ensure that our defense works effectively and that we do everything to bring peace closer.

I held a Staff meeting. There was a detailed analysis of today's Russian strike and the operation of our air defenses. We usually do such analyses of combat activities after massive attacks – identifying weak points as well as lessons learned that deserve to be shared. Today, all the necessary reports on this were presented. Special emphasis was placed on the effectiveness of our air defenses. In total, the Russians used more than 260 aerial attack assets in this strike: cruise and ballistic missiles, attack drones.

Today, this Russian strike on our energy system and civilian facilities occurred so routinely for Russia, so vile and cynical, as always, as if there are no efforts at all from Ukraine and the world to end this war. Ukraine is ready for peace as soon as possible: we have proposed concrete steps. And every day, new Russian strikes and reality itself prove that it is Russia that must be forced into peace – into stopping the war, into real diplomacy, into ensuring security and into a reliable and lasting peace.

I thank everyone who is helping Ukraine, everyone who is supporting our state, our people, our defense, and simply the truth.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal delivered a report today on domestic matters, including financial stability. 

Starting March 1, Ukraine traditionally adjusts pensions – this year by 11.5%. In total, more than ten million pensioners will receive increased payments in March. I urge everyone in the Pension Fund, regional authorities, and local governments to be as attentive as possible. If our pensioners have any questions about their payments, please assist them, provide clear explanations, and do your best to support them during this time.

Thank you to everyone working for Ukraine, and to everyone fighting for our country and our people!
Glory to Ukraine!

Today, I have already spoken with the President of Finland, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister of Greece, the Prime Minister of Croatia, the NATO Secretary General, and the leader of Germany’s CDU party, Friedrich Merz – the very party that won the recent Bundestag elections. Clear support for Ukraine. Thank you.

There is very important news from the European Commission about significant funds for Europe’s defense. For us, this primarily means additional air defense – more systems, more missiles, and increased ability to protect our cities and villages, our positions. And all of this creates a solid additional foundation for efforts to bring the war to an end.

We will continue consultations, and new joint steps will follow. Ukraine deserves peace. Ukrainians deserve respect.

I held a Staff meeting where we analyzed support packages and some contracts secured over this time. There are good results on artillery contracts – Ukraine needs a solid foundation. Next – drones, an unwavering priority. Air defense – additional systems have now arrived in Ukraine from Lithuania. Thanks a lot, Mr. President.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine reported today on finances for this year – we are securing all necessary funding and will get through 2025 financially.

There were also some special issues concerning our national resilience on the Staff meeting agenda today – we are working on all possible scenarios to protect Ukraine. The baseline scenario is to hold positions and create conditions for proper diplomacy, for the soonest possible end to this war with a decent peace. We need peace – real, fair peace – not endless war.