President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about his meetings with leaders of countries and the work of humanitarian headquarters in liberated territories.

"Unbreakable people of the bravest country!

Today we celebrated Border Guard Day. It is clear that there can be no celebrations during wartime. But it is essential to support Ukrainians who protect our state in border service.

Since the first days of the war—both from February 24 and since 2014—the border guards heroically defend Ukraine. They carry out combat missions. They were the first to meet Russian invaders at the state border. They face daily shelling. They fight side by side with Ukrainian Armed Forces, our National Guard, National Police, territorial defense forces, and all those who stand up for our country.

In particular, they are fighting in Mariupol, heroically defending our city. 340 border guards—our heroes. I spoke with them today. Greeted them. Thanked them.

I am grateful to every man and woman whose professional day was celebrated today. I had the honor of presenting state awards to border guards who distinguished themselves in battles for our country.

Occupants are gathering additional forces for new attacks against our military on the eastern part of the country. They have reinforced troops in Kharkiv region, trying to increase pressure on Donbas. They have already lost over 23 thousand soldiers in this futile war for Russia. But they do not stop.

We know that Russian command is preparing for new heavy losses.

In units whose personnel was almost completely destroyed or significantly weakened in March-April, they are recruiting new people. With weak motivation. With little combat experience. They just want to fill the necessary numbers so that these units can be thrown into an offensive.

Russian command well understands that thousands more Russian soldiers will be killed and wounded in the coming weeks.

But why should this matter to Russian soldiers themselves? Why should it matter to their families? Russian commanders lie to their soldiers when they say there is some serious responsibility for refusing to fight. And they do not tell, for example, about the preparation of additional refrigerators by the Russian army for storing corpses. They do not mention new "planned" losses expected by generals.

Every Russian soldier can still save their life. It is better to survive in Russia than die on our land.

Our defenders have already destroyed over a thousand Russian tanks. Nearly two hundred Russian aircraft. Almost two and a half thousand armored combat vehicles. Of course, the occupiers still have equipment in reserve. Yes, they still have missiles for strikes against our territory. But this war has weakened Russia so much that it is forced to plan even fewer military vehicles for participation in the parade in Moscow.

We are actively communicating with partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia. For Mariupol, for all destroyed cities and communities of Ukraine, for war crimes against our people. For missile and air strikes on Ukrainian territory.

Today the occupiers again hit rockets at Dnipropetrovsk region, Odessa. Again and again Russian troops demonstrate that Odessites are just as much enemies to Russia as all other Ukrainians. The runway of Odessa airport was destroyed. We will certainly rebuild it. But Odessa will never forget such a Russian attitude towards it.

We expect decisions soon regarding oil restrictions against Russia. We insist that an equitable part of sanctions on Russian oil should be blocking any attempts by Russia to circumvent the restrictions through sales of so-called oil blends. Any company or country helping Russia trade in oil must also receive sanctions. Any sponsorship for the interests of Russia's war terrorist machine must stop.

I spoke today with President of France Emmanuel Macron. About various cooperation directions between Ukraine and France, especially defense-related ones. Also—about interaction on Ukraine’s path to the European Union. We are moving towards political formalization of what is already a fact: Ukraine has become an integral part of united Europe.

I also spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. About defensive support for Ukraine and other necessary efforts to end the war.

Briefed Boris on the current situation at active battlefronts and in detail—on the situation on our eastern front, in Mariupol, in southern parts of the country.

All leaders of free world know what Russia has done to Mariupol. And this will not go without consequences for Russia.

Many leaders are trying to help save our heroic defenders of the city. We spoke very detailed about it with UN Secretary-General during his visit to Kyiv. We do everything we can so that evacuation mission from Mariupol finally takes place.

I held talks with President of Switzerland Cassis. Thanked for humanitarian support to Ukraine and Ukrainians. Discussed the mediating role of Switzerland in helping Ukrainians who ended up on Russian territory. We discussed preparations for a conference on post-war reconstruction of our country.

We are doing everything we can to return normal life to liberated parts of our Ukraine. Work of humanitarian headquarters has already started in 93% of the territories that were occupied.

We actively conduct demining of freed territory. Several dozen settlements are added daily to the list where demining is completed. 69% of the liberated settlements have full local self-governance restored. We restore electricity supply, communication, water supply, gas provision. We do everything we can to return normal healthcare, educational services, access to financial institutions. We restore roads.

Of course, there is still a lot of work ahead. Occupants are still on our land and refuse to acknowledge the obvious failure of their so-called operation. Still need to fight and focus all forces to drive out the occupiers. And we will do it. Ukraine will be free.

Kherson, Nova Kakhovka, Melitopol, Berdyansk, Dniprorodne, and all other temporarily occupied cities and communities where occupants pretend now to be "masters" will be liberated.

The Ukrainian flag will return everywhere it should be by right. It will return together with normal life that Russia simply cannot provide even on its own territory.

I signed a decree awarding our defenders—fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine. State awards were awarded to 133 national guardsmen, including 11 posthumously.

Eternal glory to all who fell for Ukraine!

Eternal glory to every man and woman who stood up for the state!

Glory to Ukraine!"