Isabel Wiseler-Lima

I don't often share my own emotions here. I mostly stick to facts and reason. But I'm actually a very emotional person. The situation in Kyiv with freezing people in cold homes that are left without electricity, heating and water during the cold winter after deliberate Russian attacks is simply terrible. The most vulnerable, the weakest, the old, the sick, the tiny kids and their parents - these suffer the most. They have nowhere to go or they simply can't move. A lot of people have nothing apart from those cold walls. Their suffering doesn't help Russia reach any military goals. Ukraine will not fall, the frontline will not collapse. Ukraine is still a large and strong country. What Russia does and what it is able to do is cause great suffering to average Ukrainians. Russia puts people on the brink of survival, makes people's lives unbearable. This is a tragedy of a huge scale and people who are surviving through this want to understand what this is all for. In almost four years of the full-scale war Ukraine demonstrates incredible resilience and bravery. An exhausted Ukraine is a direct threat to European security. A strong Ukraine means a protected Europe. Ukraine needs air defense and security guarantees.

There are already initial reports on the situation in the regions after the Russian strike. Kyiv and the region, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Sumy, and other regions of ours. Repair crews, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and all necessary forces are engaged everywhere. The Russian strike involved a significant number of ballistic and cruise missiles. Plus more than 300 attack drones. Our air defense forces intercepted a significant number of targets. The day before this strike, we finally received the necessary missiles, which helped significantly. Every support package matters. Missiles for Patriots, NASAMS, and other air defense systems are critically needed. The direct task of our entire diplomatic system is to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient air defense capabilities. And partners must not fail to deliver on this – air defense missiles are real protection for human life. In the format of a special energy coordination call, we will determine all the details regarding the consequences of the attack and the resources needed to restore electricity, heat, and water supply for people. The most difficult situation for now is in Kyiv, where a significant number of residential buildings are without heating. It is important that the world does not remain silent about this. Russia cannot be on an equal footing with other countries in the world as long as it is focused solely on killing and tormenting people. All Ukrainian officials – everyone responsible for the work of state institutions, regional and local authorities, and Ukrainian energy companies – must now be in Ukraine, working, helping people, and trying to stabilize the situation. Being in the country, in our cities, with our communities is essential. Glory to Ukraine!