President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about new challenges facing Ukrainian and European energy sectors and possible scenarios for people in temporarily occupied areas in the south and east.

"Ukrainians! Ukrainians!

Today was quite a productive day.

I met with the European Commissioner for Crisis Management. I thanked Mr. Lenarcic for all the aid provided during the full-scale war. We discussed how additional humanitarian needs of our people could be addressed by our European friends. Of course, we touched upon the energy situation.

I spoke today with the President of Turkey. I thanked him for supporting Ukraine's territorial integrity. We discussed key security issues currently facing Ukraine and the entire region. Key topics included efforts to free our people from Russian captivity, defense cooperation, and the export of Ukrainian food products.

I held talks with Greece’s Minister of Foreign Affairs—he is visiting Kyiv for the third time since February 24th. I thanked Greece for its support in the defense sector. We agreed to strengthen our bilateral relations as well as cooperation at both EU and NATO levels.

Tomorrow, I will participate in an EU summit—I will address partners. The key topic, of course, is challenges facing our energy sectors, Ukrainian and European alike. We will respond collectively to the terrorist threat.

Today at the Office there was a meeting between Andriy Yermak and representatives from embassies of France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain regarding strengthening our anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense.

We are working to ensure full security for Ukrainian skies. We already have significant results: over the past month, 233 "Shaheds" and dozens of missiles were shot down. Just today alone, ten Iranian drones were destroyed on the Kyiv front. Another eleven "Shaheds" were shot down thanks to soldiers from the Southern Air Command. Thank you, boys, for your great work!

There are results in other areas as well. But unfortunately there are also hits. There is new damage to critical infrastructure. This night alone three energy facilities were destroyed by the enemy.

Of course, we will do everything possible to restore normal energy capabilities of our country. But this takes time. And for this we need joint efforts from all of us. Tomorrow—more than ever before.

There will be explanations both from regional administration leaders and government officials, but starting tomorrow morning at 7 am everyone needs to be especially mindful about electricity consumption.

Please do not turn on unnecessary electrical appliances. Please limit the use of equipment that consumes a lot of energy. Tomorrow it is very important for consumption to be as conscious as possible so that stabilization blackouts will be shorter.

I held an energy meeting today—the Office, government, and energy companies. We are preparing for all possible scenarios considering the winter season. We assume that Russian terror will target energy objects until our partners help us ensure 100% of enemy missiles and drones can be shot down.

Separately today I would like to address our people in temporarily occupied areas in the south and east of Ukraine. Soon occupiers will try to take men into their army everywhere, just as they did in Donetsk and Luhansk. Please avoid this if you can. Try to leave the occupied territory.

If you cannot do that and find yourself in Russian military structures, at your first opportunity try to surrender weapons and come to Ukrainian positions. And most importantly—protect your life. And help other people around you as well. Our common task is to hold out. To hold out against these lunatics...

Russia for half a year did not even utter the word "war," punishing its own people with criminal cases for it, and now declares martial law on occupied territory.

Occupants themselves brought war to our land under their constant false talk about negotiations, and now they are signing orders that legitimize the war.

Well, what can I say—just a nervous breakdown in "comrade chekists." A nervous breakdown that will be all the greater as closer comes Russia's defeat.    

In the evening, I signed another decree awarding our soldiers. State awards were bestowed upon 71 servicemen of Ukraine’s Armed Forces today.

Thank you to everyone who fights and works for Ukraine! Thank you all who help in our defense!

And separately, I would like to thank the Ukrainian people who became this year's laureate of a special European Parliament award—the Sakharov Prize. This prize is awarded annually to those who have made the greatest contribution to defending democracy, human rights and European values. It really matters that in Europe this year all Ukrainians and Ukrainian women are being honored—millions of our people bravely defending freedom.

Glory to our beautiful nation!

Glory to Ukraine!»