President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the nation, reporting on the brutal shelling of Kherson and Kherson Oblast by Russian terrorists and preparing robust measures to strengthen the state.

"Dear Ukrainians,

A brief report for today – a long and eventful day, many meetings, various encounters…

Morning briefing – reports from the military, SBU, MVS. Particularly regarding Russian shelling and the liquidation of their consequences.

Special attention – Kherson, Kherson Oblast. These days Russia is particularly brutally shelling Kherson, Berislaw, villages in Kherson Oblast. Artillery, guided air bombs. On houses, farms, on ordinary shops and infrastructure. A deliberate terror of the occupier. My condolences to everyone who lost loved ones!

And I thank each person working in this region – in Kherson Oblast – and in all other regions that suffer such blows. Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, northern oblasts. It is extremely important that despite everything there are rescuers and rescue operations. When they exist, when lives are saved, terror will not prevail.

I thank all doctors and employees of the State Emergency Service, all volunteers, police officers, all communal workers, energy workers, local authorities and everyone who helps. I thank you for saving our people's lives and restoring living conditions!

Special assignment – to military personnel, there will be special assignments to all those involved in the international direction as well: our soldiers need more tools to destroy Russian rockets, "shaheds" and other attack drones, and Russian aviation. And I am grateful to everyone around the world who is already helping or willing to increase assistance to our country with such means that can provide more protection against Russian terror.

Today I received virtual certificates from ambassadors – seven ambassadors starting their work in Ukraine. The United Kingdom, France, Estonia, Canada, Hungary, Slovenia and the European Union. Spoke with all of them. They are geared towards maximally productive work with Ukraine, and I am convinced: such work is needed now by everyone around the world who wishes to bring closer the end of the war. To bring our common victory.

We have a new ambassador for our fundraising platform United24 now. It's British actor Mark Strong. We spoke today, and I thanked him for his decision to work in the "Education and Science" direction. His goal will be to raise funds for the reconstruction of Ukrainian schools. Our task is to give all Ukrainian children the opportunity to study at school, not remotely where and when security conditions allow.

By the way, thanks to United24 already more than 470 million dollars have been collected. Almost half a billion in donations from over 110 countries around the world. Different countries, different levels of contributions. This is people helping – ordinary people and companies. I thank everyone!

And one more thing.

I held several preparatory meetings today. We plan to hold robust measures for strengthening the state this month, and we are already working on substantive content for October and November. Ukraine will be stronger. Ukraine will have more opportunities for its defense.

No matter what happens in the world, no matter what external conditions may be, we must remember that only our conditions, only our internal attitude towards Ukraine, freedom, and our goals determine when we will achieve our goal – the main goal of Ukraine's victory.

Strength for Ukraine has no alternatives. And everyone who strengthens the state, every man and woman who becomes stronger, and all those who help fight the enemy and bring results to Ukraine – they all are bringing us closer to our goal.

Glory to our soldiers!

Glory to our unbreakable people!

Glory to Ukraine!"