President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, speaking about the need to lift the aviation taboo in relations with our partners and about several meetings with representatives of the government and security sector.

"I wish health to all dear Ukrainians!

Briefly reporting on today's events.

The day began with attacks by Iranian drones. Most of them were shot down. 11 out of 14.

Unfortunately, there were hits as well. Three members of the State Emergency Service in Khmelnytskyi were injured; two lost their lives. My condolences to their families... The second drone hit just when firefighting efforts began after the first incident.

In fact, that is precisely why we need an aviation component for air defense systems — modern combat aircraft to protect our entire territory from Russian terror. An effective air defense system must include, among other things, contemporary aviation.

Our pilots together with anti-aircraft forces and all of our military personnel are already doing a great job. But we will be able to fully secure the skies when the aviation taboo is lifted in relations with our partners.

Throughout the day, work continued in Odessa and the Odessa region to mitigate the consequences of an energy network accident. There was a large-scale blackout, but power supply has been restored within the day.

By evening, all critical infrastructure and almost all consumers are back on electricity. I thank everyone involved in the energy sector and repair crews for their quick response.

Ukraine will demonstrate and continue to do so that our resilience exceeds any expectations.

I held several meetings today with representatives of the government and security sector. Among them, a meeting with SBU Head Vasyl Maliuk. We discussed current issues as well as steps we are taking in the near future for national defense.

We will leave no chance to any internal threats just as we do not leave any external ones.

Of course, I am constantly in touch with our commanders. Special attention — the situation on the eastern front, obviously in Donetsk.

The Bakhmut direction — the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. The enemy continuously destroys everything that can be used to defend our positions and fortify them.

Our soldiers defending the Bakhmut front are true heroes.

I thank everyone who heroically holds this direction and other directions in Donbas. I thank everyone who helps our soldiers and does everything to ensure that our defenders have as much ammunition, long-range weapons, and powerful weaponry as possible.

Today, the US Secretary of Finance visited Kyiv.

I thanked her for the life-saving financial support provided to our country. We discussed current cooperation both at the level of Ukraine and the United States and also at the level of global financial institutions, particularly the IMF. We talked about needs in reconstruction in Ukraine and restoring justice for our people and the entire free world — this is launching a real compensation mechanism for losses caused by this war, compensated through Russian assets.

This is not an easy task. But implementing it, directing Russian assets towards compensating for war losses will be one of the most powerful blows to this aggressor and any aggression in general.

I believe a format for compensation will be found, and Russia will pay for its war. In all senses.

Glory to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine now! I thank everyone who helps!

Bright memory to all whose lives were taken by Russian terror!

Glory to Ukraine!