Some air defence systems provided by Western allies had run out of ammunition during a critical moment as Russia launched its latest wave of attacks on Ukraine’s civilian and infrastructure targets, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday.
“Until this morning we had several systems without missiles. Today I can say this openly, because today I have those missiles,” Zelenskyy told reporters on Friday at a press conference in Kyiv.
Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defence systems in order to protect its vital infrastructure from attacks in Russia’s all-out war, which nears its four-year mark.
In recent months, Russia has intensified its campaign against the country’s energy grid, in an effort to cut off power and heating in the height of winter. Kyiv, in particular, has become a primary target.
The capital has been battered by hundreds of Russian drones and missiles in recent days, with more than 15,000 energy workers racing in freezing temperatures to restore power plants and substations.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned Kyiv had roughly half the electricity it needs, local media reported, and has previously urged residents to temporarily leave the city as a precaution.
In some areas of the city, emergency tents were installed in residential areas where people can warm up as Russian attacks leave residents without power, water and heating.
According to Ukraine’s newly-appointed Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, Russia launched 612 attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure over the last year, adding that Moscow did not spare a single Ukrainian power plant since the onset of its full-scale invasion.
The government has now been tasked with increasing electricity imports and expanding the use of backup energy supplies, Zelenskyy said in a video address.
“It is important that state institutions and local authorities maintain full communication with businesses and energy companies—with everyone who can add resources to our shared resilience,” he added.
Zelenskyy also noted he spoke with Ukraine’s minister of defence, as well as the commander of the Air Force about protecting the country’s energy infrastructure, and reiterated he remains committed to diplomacy with Western allies.
Additional sources • AFP