President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about an act of terror by occupiers at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the confiscation of Russian assets in our country and abroad.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

Today, three ships carrying grain for export have departed from our ports — from Odesa and Chornomorsk. Almost 60 thousand tons of corn are on board, which consumers in Turkey, Britain, and Ireland are waiting for.

The first ship since February 24 is heading to the port of Chornomorsk.

What matters now — is a steady increase in exports. This concerns everyone — but only reasonable world actors. The more our grain appears on the global market, the less political chaos will be in countries primarily in Africa and Asia, though not exclusively there. We must remember that this year, Europe's demand for imported food is much higher than expected. European harvests are smaller due to speculation. However, Ukraine’s crop of cereals and oilseeds is likely to meet expectations — over 65 million tons are forecasted. So if partners fulfill their part of the commitment according to the Grain Initiative — the security part — and do not allow new Russian provocations regarding our exports, then the food crisis that was so threatening to the world can be overcome.

As for the energy market, especially for European consumers, the situation remains extremely dangerous due to Russia's cynical and calculated gas blackmail. Instead of supplying gas to Europe according to contracts, Russia is even burning it — for more than a week now. Why does she do this? To drive up prices in Europe even higher, so that ordinary Europeans suffer even more and everyone on the continent finds it harder to prepare for winter. This is an expression of Russia's conscious anti-European policy, an anti-human policy, and the result of old European mistakes who did not want to see that "Gazprom," Russian gas pipelines around Ukraine — are weapons for Russia just like tanks, artillery, and their targets — each one of us, everyone in Europe.

And now we must defend ourselves together. Together prepare for the new heating season. Together respond to any provocations by Russia in the energy sphere. Together work on sanction measures in response to Russian blackmail and terror.

Today, occupiers created another extremely risky situation for everyone in Europe — they shelled the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant twice a day. This is the largest nuclear power plant on our continent. And any attacks on this facility are an outright criminal act of terror. Russia must be held accountable just for creating a threat to the NPP. And this is not only another argument in favor of recognizing Russia as a state — sponsor of terrorism. It's also an argument for applying harsh sanctions against the entire Russian nuclear industry — from "Rosatom" to all affiliated companies and individuals. This is purely a matter of security. Whoever creates nuclear threats for other nations, themselves cannot safely use nuclear technologies.

I chaired today's meeting on sanction policy and confiscation of Russian assets. As officials reported, we have already forcibly removed assets worth 28 billion hryvnia in Ukraine. This work is ongoing. Another 900 objects belonging to the Russian state are proposed for confiscation. And if we assess the package of property not only of the terrorist state but also its residents, then it amounts to over 36 thousand positions for removal. All this will be aimed at compensating for losses inflicted by Russia through war and terror.

I was also briefed on the results of work by a group developing and implementing an international compensation mechanism and confiscation of Russian assets abroad. Our partners are actively working on this — in Europe, legislation is being developed in the US to expand possibilities for confiscating Russian assets for Ukraine.

And the burnt Donbas by Russian strikes, the abuse by occupiers over Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, shelling of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Odesa regions and other parts of Ukraine — this is what Russia will pay for. Politically, financially, and with its own future that it loses with every blow to our territory.

I spoke today with the President of Malawi. Another African country — already the ninth one with which Ukraine contacts at the highest level throughout our entire history of independence for the first time. I assured Mr. President that Ukraine will do everything possible to ensure that every country interested in our agro-products can secure their consumption. We also discussed other stability issues and our cooperation in international organizations.

I signed a decree awarding our soldiers as well. 192 participants of combat actions were awarded state honors, 18 of them posthumously.

Eternal gratitude to all who fight for our great country!

Thank you, great people of Ukraine!

Glory to Ukraine!"