Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Russia killed at least 5 people and wounded 67 in Pavlohrad today, striking civilians near shopping malls with drones in broad daylight. This is deliberate terror against civilians.  

Russia is systematically attacking places where it knows people will be spending their time going about their daily lives, seeking to maximise casualties, spread fear, and put pressure on Ukrainian society. 

Air raid alerts across Ukraine continue without respite, and Russia keeps launching more and more drones, sometimes directly from production facilities. Moscow continues doing this because it still has the missiles, drones, components, money, and sense of impunity to do so.  

This is a tactic of coercion. Russia believes that relentless attacks on civilians can exhaust Ukrainians and force Ukraine into concessions. 

Ukraine needs additional air defence systems and interceptors now. Sanctions must hit Russia’s weapons production and the supply chains that keep it running. Russian revenues financing this terror must be cut. 

Today Ukraine’s air raid siren should sound louder than ever in every partner capital. There is no time for another round of concern and deliberation. The weapons capable of stopping this terror exist, as do the decisions capable of exhausting Russia’s war machine. We need both now.  

Russia must not be rewarded for trying to coerce Ukraine through the killing of civilians. It must lose the means to continue doing it."