President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, informing about yet another round of cowardly strikes by the Russian army on peaceful residents of our country and today's special meeting of the Security and Defense Council.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

We continue our diplomatic efforts aimed at ensuring that all partners of Ukraine and countries around the world understand the new escalatory steps being taken by the state-sponsored terrorist regime these days.

Today I spoke with President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi. Held a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly of France. Thank you to partners for their clear condemnation of Russian pseudo-referendums, for condemning attempts at annexation of our territory that are being prepared by the Kremlin right now.

I want to thank our Polish brothers for invaluable military support and cooperation in the interest of mutual security. And today during my conversation with President Duda, we discussed how we can further strengthen these relations.

We also talked about cross-border cooperation. We must do everything possible so that there are no obstacles for our peoples in economic or any other relations.

I want to thank Prime Minister Draghi for his principled condemnation of Russian escalatory steps. We exchanged views on what further steps can be taken in bilateral relations with Italy and multilateral relations at the EU level to provide more security to all of us in Europe.

The first visit by a head of France's lower house to Ukraine is happening at an historic moment. In a time when solidarity among leaders at all levels is crucial for the future democratic world. I thanked Madame Speaker of the National Assembly of France and her parliamentary colleagues for their readiness to continue helping us defend the independence of Ukraine and freedom of all Europe.

Today I also spoke with university communities and civic activists from Switzerland based in Zurich University. It is very important that Switzerland and its citizens are not remaining neutral, but supporting our desire to live — freely and in peace.

Everyone around the world understands what such an attempt at annexation would actually mean. It means something other than what they hope for in the Kremlin.

Today I explained this to the peoples of the Caucasus, Siberia, and other indigenous peoples of Russia. And now I repeat it for everyone in this country: Russia will not get new territory from Ukraine. Russia will attach itself to the catastrophe that it has brought to the occupied territories of our country. Russia will equate itself with so-called 'DNR' and 'LNR', finally destroying whatever institutions of normal statehood still exist in Russia.

The occupier fills the occupied territory of Ukraine with graves, and more graves — on Russian soil. The occupier sets up torture chambers on the occupied territories — and will fill all of Russia with them. This is how law enforcement in Russia now works, this is how Russian special services operate. Law in Russia has been destroyed. And those who brought all these deaths, tortures, rapes from Russia will take them home.

The occupier destroys everywhere on the occupied territory any basis for life — economy, social sphere, culture...

At the cost of one person in Russia wanting to continue this war, all of Russian society will remain without a normal economy, without decent living conditions and respect for any human values.

This can still be stopped. But to stop it, you have to stop that one person in Russia who wants war more than life. Your life, citizens of Russia.

Today the Russian army delivered another round of cowardly strikes on peaceful people in Mykolaiv — a shell exploded near a public transport stop. There are fatalities and injuries... Again shelling of Kharkiv, Sumy region, fierce fire on Donbas, southern Ukraine.

All this can only be stopped one way: by liberating. And until Russia comes, there was normal life everywhere in Ukrainian territory. And when Russia goes, when we drive it out, normal life will return. This is the only way. This is the path to our victory.

We cannot know how long it will take us to follow this path. But we know that no Russian manipulation or crime can push us off of this path.

Today we managed to secure the release of six more of our citizens from Russian captivity. I thank everyone who is making this work possible!

We have new results on the front today.

We received additional elements of aid from partners today.

This will continue to be the case.

Tomorrow — another day of our struggle, another day on the path to victory. Will it be a special day for us? This day will bring us closer to security and peace. To restoring territorial integrity. Because this is what millions of Ukrainians are fighting and working for.

Tomorrow there will be a special meeting of the Security and Defense Council that I called. There will be decisions. 

And we know how to react to any Russian actions.

And finally. This morning I honored the memory of all victims of the Babi Yar shootings. Eternal glory to the victims of Nazism! Eternal curse on those who repeat Nazi crimes!

Glory to Ukraine!"