Ivan Havryliuk, Lieutenant General, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine

The intensity of hostilities at the frontline increased significantly in late August and early September. The number of combat engagements per day often exceeds 200. The hottest spots are in the Pokrovske and Kurakhove sectors. During the first week of September, the Russian army fired nearly 30,000 times, including 860 times from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Almost 1,300 combat engagements took place in seven days. The enemy has increased the number of assaults, hoping to push through our defense line. In addition, the Russians are carrying out daily horrific attacks on our cities, trying to psychologically exhaust and break Ukrainians.

Despite the fact that the creeping advance is costing the Russian army a huge price, the Kremlin is not changing its tactics. Assault and bombing aircraft, artillery, MLRS, armored vehicles and new soldiers are their main force of advance on the front. I repeat, despite unprecedented losses. In August, the Russian army lost almost 37,000 soldiers and officers, 193 tanks, more than 1,500 (!) artillery systems, 550 armored personnel carriers, and 2,000 vehicles. These are Russia's losses in just one month of the war in Ukraine!

Even such horrific figures of losses of the Russian army do not stop Putin. He is driving new soldiers over the corpses of their compatriots. His task is to accelerate the offensive in Donetsk region as much as possible. And he has no plans to stop now. Because he is obsessed with capturing territory. The Kremlin is convinced that the tactics of a creeping offensive will overcome Ukraine and slowly exhaust it. On the front and in the rear....

The Russian army will persist until the crisis of its own technical resources becomes particularly acute. And then Russia will seek to “freeze” the war...

“Long arm” as a key factor

We are going through one of the fiercest periods of the war. And it can be decisive. Certain factors must work for events to develop in our favor. The key one is new powerful military assistance packages that will include a wide range of weapons. First and foremost, air defense systems, aircraft, shells, armored vehicles, and long-range missiles. We have to respond to the enemy's superior strength in terms of weapons, equipment and soldiers with effective tools of war. For example, high-precision, long-range weapons. To break the Russian dominance in the skies, we need more airplanes and air defense systems. And if we don't have the necessary amount of these weapons and equipment, then we need to overcome their superiority with other tools, in a different way. Long-range weapons can perform a wide range of tasks. It is a very effective tool for reducing the capabilities of the enemy army far from the front line. This is the “long arm” that can really change the balance of power.

We cannot compete with Russia in terms of the number of artillery barrels, shells, airplanes, armored vehicles, and soldiers. We have to act asymmetrically. We have to strike hard at military targets: airfields, arsenals, bases, and military factories on Russian territory. Long-range weapons in combination with other effective means of destruction could force the Kremlin to end the war.

Russia does not respond to the “concern” and “condemnation” of its crimes by democratic countries. In response to calls to end the war, the Russian army continues to target the Ukrainian people, hitting our homes, hospitals, and energy facilities. Because war is a drug for the Kremlin!

We continue to persuade our partners at all levels to provide Ukrainian soldiers with more and faster weapons.

One of our partners' explanations for the “taboo” of Western missile strikes deep into Russia is the fear of escalation. But has the Russian army started shooting less? On the contrary! Look at the above statistics on the intensity of shelling over the past few weeks. Every day, Russians are shelling Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, and Kryvy Rih. Remember the Russian attack on the educational institution and hospital in Poltava on September 3. Some 58 dead... Or the attack on Lviv on September 4. Seven people died as a result of Russian shelling, including a woman with three daughters. These missiles that came to kill Ukrainians could have been destroyed by long-range weapons in Russian arsenals before they were launched.

And the statement that removing barriers for Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia would mean entering a war with Russia is very much in line with the rhetoric of Kremlin propagandists. At the same time, remember that it was Russia that broke the rules-based architecture of the world order. Russia is a terrorist country.

Targets for ATACMS are not only military airfields

The answer to the question of millions of Ukrainians: “when will the war end?” is actually simple - when Russia cannot continue it. And this depends primarily on Ukrainian soldiers and strong decisions of the allies.

Ukraine has the right to defense. We do not have enough weapons to repel the Kremlin's troops. Therefore, we are forced to stand on the defense. That is why we repeat that we need more resources. And not only for defense.

Our defense line at the front is far from European capitals. They don't hear the sounds of Russian missiles and the screams of our children. Our partners must understand that helping Ukraine is an investment in their own security. The stronger the Ukrainian fortress is, the less chance the Kremlin will have to drive tanks to European cities.

It is important to analyze the lessons of war. I emphasize that in war, the speed of decision-making and their implementation are key factors. But in practice, the response to certain situations is often delayed.

While we were discussing with our partners the need to remove barriers to the use of long-range weapons, the Russians redeployed aircraft inland, beyond the reach of ATACMS, for example. That is why some in the West believe that their use will be ineffective.

However, long-range missiles can destroy not only airfields but also other military targets within their range: arsenals, bases, warehouses, so that less ammunition, weapons, and equipment can be delivered to the front line.

Even the biggest and fiercest bears are afraid of fire. A furious Russian bear will be stopped by the powerful fire of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. We need to add more firepower. Many of our partners are aware that the scale of the Russian offensive requires more weapons to be supplied to Ukrainians.

At the same time, we are urgently asking our partners to help accelerate the development and increase the production of missiles, long-range drones, robotic systems, electronic warfare systems and other weapons at Ukrainian enterprises. We also encourage our allies to buy weapons for the Armed Forces from Ukrainian manufacturers. A better-armed Ukrainian army will motivate Russia to end the war faster.

The Russian terror has not been stopped yet. This is a challenge to the whole world! I am convinced that no one doubts the resilience of the Ukrainian soldier. I hope the states of the world's democracies will pass the main test of collective resilience.