"Today, one of the russian state representatives said that the occupiers allegedly began to use laser weapons systems in Ukraine. Allegedly to save missiles," – Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his address.
First, the President mentioned, it draws attention that they have to save missiles and explain it somehow. That is, more than two thousand missiles that the russian army fired at Ukraine were the majority of their missile reserves. That is, only the remnants are left.
Second, everybody has seen russia at war by now. Inexperienced conscripts whom it throws into battle as cannon fodder. Marauders who saw normal household appliances for the first time in a foreign country. Old Soviet "armor" without modern protection. Forbidden phosphorous bombs which they use to burn schools and ordinary houses.
Zelenskyy noted that the majority of missiles were used by the russian army to destroy completely civilian infrastructure without any strategic military result. This day [on 18 May – tr.] they have been firing missiles like this at Mykolaiv as well as at Dnipro.
The President recalled that Nazi Germany had in its propaganda a term "wunderwaffe", "wonder weapon". The clearer it became that they had no chances at the war the more there were propaganda talks about some wonder weapon that was allegedly so powerful it would ensure a pivotal point in the war.
In the third month of the full-scale war, russia is trying to find its "wunderwaffe", allegedly laser one, that indicates the total failure of the invasion.
"But again, this also indicates that they are afraid to admit that catastrophic mistakes have been made at the highest state and military levels in Russia. Therefore, they will make up with more and more "wunderwaffe" as the Ukrainian Armed Forces and all our defenders liberate our land step by step," – Zelenskyy mentioned.
The President reported that the question of how long the war will go on can be answered only by the real situation on the battlefield. Ukraine will try to drive out the occupiers as soon as possible and guarantee itself total security.
Zelenskyy explained that this was the reason why he signed the decrees to prolong the martial law legal regime and the term of general mobilization and expressed his hope that Verkhovna Rada would support this decision soon.
"Kherson, Melitopol, Berdyansk, Enerhodar, Mariupol, and all of our cities and communities that are under occupation – under temporary occupation – should know that Ukraine will return," – the President assured.
He recalled that Ukraine remembers Crimea, and we will never forget neither 1944 – the genocide of Crimean Tatars that the Soviet authorities committed. Nor 2014 – the second wave of annihilation of everything that is about freedom on the Crimean peninsula.
It is this day [Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar People – tr.] when Zelenskyy signed the law on the protection of persons deprived of liberty by the occupiers, as well as on the protection of family members of such people. It's about all the Kremlin's hostages – both in Crimea and in the occupied part of Donbas. The law provides them with more protection and assistance from the state.
Zelenskyy thanked Andriy Shevchenko, the legendary soccer player for becoming the first ambassador of the new national brand of Ukraine – United24. As soon as the beginning of June we'll be able to see the first special event in London with the participation of Andriy Shevchenko in support of United24.
In the President's opinion, this is the platform the state needs very much right now, it allows, among other things, to raise funds to support Ukraine. Anyone in the world – with one click – can contribute to our victory. Moreover, in the direction, they deem the most important. For example, it can be defence and demining, medical care, or the country's reconstruction.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen for the aid package for our country amounting to 9 billion euros announced on Wednesday as well as for the support of the plans to rebuild Ukraine.
Also, the President held talks with the new President of the United Arab Emirates, congratulated him on his election to office, and invited him to participate in the post-war reconstruction of the state. The parties discussed the threat to global food security that russia had provoked by this invasion.
Besides, Zelenskyy signed the decree to award 197 military people of the UAF with state awards, 5 of them – posthumously.
Also, today the President presented the Order of the Golden Star to servicemen whom he previously awarded with the title of Hero of Ukraine. In particular, to Colonel Serhiy Baranovsky for courage and efficiency in the battles in Donbas. And to Colonel Serhiy Musienko for personal courage and success in the battles in the Kharkiv region.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the law on the peculiarities of local self-government during the martial law legal regime.