President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, informing about an emergency shutdown of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant due to actions by occupiers and a new package of aid from the United States.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

All Europeans!

For the first time in history, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant has been shut down. Emergency protection systems for the power units were activated after a Russian shelling damaged the last operational line of power transmission to Ukraine's energy system.

Diesel generators immediately kicked in to provide electricity to the station itself and maintain its operation post-shutdown. The world must understand the danger this poses: if diesel generators had not been activated, if automatic systems and our plant personnel had not responded after a blackout, we would already be dealing with the consequences of a radiological disaster. Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans on the brink of a radioactive catastrophe.

The southern regions of Ukraine—occupied territories—are now in a humanitarian crisis. In addition to all the evil brought by occupiers, electricity, water, and sewage systems have been cut off. Russia has brought degradation to our land that we've never seen before. This was simply impossible before the occupation. But this is precisely the sense and pride of today's Russian state: it excels only in making the worst possible.

I want to assure all Ukrainians: we are doing everything to prevent a catastrophic scenario. However, this depends not just on our country. The key lies in international pressure that forces occupiers to immediately withdraw from the territory of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. The IAEA and other international organizations must act much faster than they currently do. Because every minute Russian troops remain at the nuclear plant is a risk of a global radiological catastrophe.

Of course, we are doing everything to inform the world about each detail of the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. And today I spoke extensively on this with President Joe Biden of the United States. Thank you for your understanding and full support in returning the plant under proper Ukrainian control and immediately ensuring access for the IAEA. This can be done within days before occupiers push us to a point of no return. It is easier to do it now than later, when winds start spreading radioactive contamination across Europe.

Overall, our conversation with President Biden today was very constructive, positive, quite lengthy and fruitful. We managed to discuss all issues that are crucial for the protection of Ukraine and freedom. I thanked Mr. President and the entire people of the United States for defense aid and for their empathetic leadership in macrofinancial support of our country.

Yesterday alone, President Biden approved a package worth 6 billion dollars: three for defense assistance, three for financial through the World Bank system.

And I especially thanked him for including anti-aircraft defense in this package. We can really make Russian missile terror a thing of the past when Ukraine receives NASAMS anti-aircraft systems.

Today, I met with Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs who arrived on a visit to Ukraine. I thanked the Italian people, President of Italy and personally Prime Minister of Italy Draghi for their principled stance in defending united Europe. Mr. Draghi has become one of those European leaders whose resolve and personal morality allowed us to strengthen Europe at a critical moment and protect normal life on our continent.

We discussed today the expansion of cooperation between our countries and Italy's experience in enhancing security, particularly energy security.

By the way, due to Russian gas blackmail, gas prices in Europe have already exceeded 3300 dollars per thousand cubic meters this day. And this anti-European policy of Russia is truly ruinous, but strategically— for Russia itself. There will be no more such player on the European energy market as Russia.

Of course, now the situation is very dangerous and acute. But most European countries are approaching the energy issue very responsibly and doing everything to adapt, to protect themselves. If anyone in Russia thinks they can bring Europe to its knees this winter—Ukraine or other individual countries—this is a failed calculation. I believe that Europe is strong enough to correct past mistakes, become independent from Russian energy systems and energy resources, and not give in to the blackmail of energy terrorists from Gazprom.

Ukraine closely coordinates actions with partners on these issues—in matters of energy. The Ukrainian government and our state companies are doing everything we can for us to get through this winter season, which will indeed be the most challenging in our history.

And now we find ourselves in a situation where it is clear that the enemy will not achieve its goals, but time and effort are still needed to make Russia's calculations fail. We must endure this time and put in all necessary efforts together with partners. And so it will be.

We will press the terrorists on all fronts—on the front line, politically, economically, and in information warfare.

For every shelling there will be a response to occupiers. For Orhei—there will be. For Chaplyne—there will be. For Shepetivka—there will be, for Mirgorod, Kharkiv, Mariupol, cities of Donbas, and all others who are hit by Russian troops—there will be a response.

Russia has prepared many problems, crises, and catastrophes for our country, Europe, and the world. But it will suffer the greatest catastrophe itself—the state-terrorist. This 'Titanic' reached its iceberg on February 24th, and no matter how they try to stay afloat, they won't succeed.

Eternal glory to all who fight for freedom!

Eternal glory to our soldiers!

Glory to Ukraine!"