President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about our application for NATO membership via an accelerated procedure and about significant military results on the eastern front of our country.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainian women!

The enemy started this day with a deliberate and absolutely calculated murder of Ukrainians in Zaporizhzhia. A rocket strike on a civilian convoy.

As of now — 30 dead. Nearly a hundred injured and wounded.

Russian military knew where their rockets were hitting. This was done by inhumane people. From the first to the last. From those who gave this order, to all who carried it out. They will answer for it. Definitely. Before the law and before people. People!

That is why we are confident of our victory. That is why we have taken the initiative in the war. That is why we are now achieving noticeable results on the battlefield... And this is very important. Congratulations to the heroes!

Because we remain human and gain support from people — from all people around the world. From every man and woman who feels pain when they learn about the deliberate killing of innocent people.

In Moscow today there was another such farce. Something was celebrated. Something was chanted. They sang in the square. Talked about Zaporizhzhia... When they themselves organized this in Zaporizhzhia. Inhumane! Eternal memory to all those killed by Russian terrorist attacks!

Ukraine today adopted decisions for our defense. All of them will be implemented. Decisions of the National Security and Defense Council and the General Staff. I have already detailed today about our application for NATO membership via an accelerated procedure and about Ukraine's obvious readiness to negotiate with the Russian Federation — but now with a different President of Russia who understands what is happening.

Now I want to add something about the National Security and Defense Council sanctions against Russian individuals and legal entities. There are indeed many prominent names on this list. But we still orient ourselves not towards prominence, but towards actually dismantling Russian influence and at the same time impacting the situation in the Russian Federation. Therefore, restrictions will be imposed against several thousand subjects. Sanctions of Ukraine and our partners will be synchronized. New sanctions will be introduced against key personnel and significant Russian enterprises.

Of course, sanctions will also be applied to citizens of other countries who participated in the Russian farce on occupied territory of our state.

Pseudo-referendums are elements of aggression against a sovereign state, and everyone involved in organizing or conducting this farce will be held accountable.

Today I spoke with the Prime Ministers of Japan and Denmark. Of course, they condemned Russia's latest escalatory steps. Thank you to them for their support!

Thank you also to all leaders of partner countries, all political and civic activists around the world who have already quite promptly expressed support for Ukraine and international law!

I thank personally President Biden, Congress, our friends in Europe and everyone who is already strengthening sanctions against Russia and making strong steps towards increasing military and financial support to Ukraine!

We must liberate all of our land, and this will be the best proof that international law and human values cannot be broken by any state terrorist, even such a bully as Russia.

We have significant results on the eastern front of our country. There is already sufficient public information about it. Everyone has heard what is happening in Lyman Donetsk region. These are steps that mean a lot to us.

And I thank all our fighters for implementing this element of our defense strategy! This is very important.

I especially want to highlight today the soldiers of the 10th Separate Mountain-Storm Brigade and the 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade for their unyielding bravery and heroism on the Severnyi and Bakhmut directions. As well as our military servicemen from the 214th Separate Cossack Battalion, Special Operations Forces and the 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade for liberating Yampil.

I thank also units of our intelligence — GUR MOD, as well as the Security Service of Ukraine.

The path of our state is difficult. The path is clear. It is a path of independence, territorial integrity, integration with civilized world and social development. Our enemy's path is also absolutely clear — defeat, shame and condemnation.

And one more thing. Every year on the last day of September Ukraine celebrates Adoption Day. In my view, this is an important day. This is a special tribute to those whose hearts are big enough to give family warmth to children who have lost parental care.

I thank today all such Ukrainians and Ukrainian women! I dream that we will reach the point where every child in Ukraine feels family warmth, no matter what life circumstances may be.

Eternal glory to our beautiful people! Eternal glory to everyone who fights for Ukraine! Let's work towards one goal — victory!

Glory to Ukraine!"