Mike Bloomfield

Our long-range sanctions have targeted the Rostov region. The Kamensky Combine, a Russian defense industry enterprise involved in missile production, was hit. A Pantsir-S2 system and a command and staff vehicle of the S-400 Triumf system were also hit. The total value of the air defense assets struck is around $70 million. I thank the warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine @ServiceSsu and other units of the Defense Forces for their accuracy! We are justly defending ourselves against Russian aggression and doing everything to reduce Russia’s capability to continue it.

Around 120 representatives of the clergy have been killed by the Russians. On purpose, not accidentally, in deliberate attacks on these people, on our churches, and on other religious institutions. Around 800 religious sites were destroyed or damaged. Some of them were one thousand years old, subjected to massive drone and missile attacks – both cruise and ballistic. It’s awful and crazy. And this is not about money. This is about our heritage, history, art, and architecture. You can’t just renovate them. It is very painful for all of us, and of course for our clergy in the first place. From the interview with This Week on Capitol Hill.

A strong decision by the U.S. State Department – authorizing Ukraine’s purchase of Patriot interceptors to counter Russian ballistic missiles. Five hundred PAC-3 interceptors is a substantial number, and very soon – this winter – they COULD make for a highly effective defense package. However, it has been stipulated that deliveries may begin ONLY IN A FEW YEARS. We are asking our American partners to find a solution for the time when there is a real danger and a real need to use PAC-3 interceptors. Right now, the Russians are attacking our energy infrastructure every single day. In just these past two weeks of October, there have already been more than 30 Russian strikes on critical parts of our power grid. It is right now, even before the beginning of winter, that Putin has started carrying out his operation to attack the systems that sustain life in our cities and communities. The targets are electricity, heating, water supplies, bridges, and life in our cities in general. We did ask our American partners to provide Ukraine with a winter support package – at a rate of 100 Patriot interceptors per month. Five hundred missiles would be enough to protect our skies over the coming months – precisely when it is so important for Ukraine to be in a strong position in negotiations and for Russia NOT to succeed in breaking life in Ukrainian cities and communities. The United States, our European partners, and other partners around the world have sufficient stocks of PAC-3 interceptors in their warehouses. Providing them to Ukraine right now – in the winter of 2026–2027 – and replenishing our partners’ arsenals LATER, in THE FOLLOWING YEARS, through this production already contracted and paid for by Ukraine and our partners would be the right approach. And it is entirely feasible. We are grateful to President Trump. Importantly, we recently discussed PAC-3 interceptors with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Ukraine is grateful to the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Administration overall for granting this authorization. But we are asking for decisions that can guarantee the protection of lives not the day after tomorrow or sometime later, but at the very moment the threat is there – when Russia is killing and destroying. I thank everyone who stands with Ukraine! state.gov/releases/bureau-of…

Every day Russian strikes hit our energy infrastructure, causing extensive damage. Russia’s operation against our power generation, energy grids and interconnectors continues. It launched 17 ballistic missiles last night, some of which struck our oil refining infrastructure in Kremenchuk. The Russians have not taken a single step toward energy de-escalation. We will act accordingly and justly.