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While Ukraine is still recovering after Russia massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, killing at least 22, Moscow is already preparing the next barrage, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday evening in his regular daily address.
“We know from intelligence services that a large-scale attack may happen again tonight.”
Zelenskyy urged the Ukrainians to pay attention to air-raid warnings and seek shelter.
He also called on Ukraine’s western partners to show more support to his country, including introducing tougher sanctions.
Zelenskyy pointed out that none of Russia’s drones, nor indeed any type of Russian missile, can be manufactured without components imported from other countries.
“Five Kalibr missiles require 145 such components. 33 Iskander missiles require 1,122 components. 650 attack drones of various types amount to more than 17,000 components, without which it is impossible to manufacture them.”
He stated that Russia is still capable to produce its missiles and weapons due to large-scale schemes to circumvent sanctions.
“And this constitutes absolutely real complicity in killings.”
Russia exploiting lack of Patriots
Russian forces launched more than 70 missiles and 650 drones against Ukraine overnight on 2 June. Around 100 more drones were launched during the day.
But while Ukraine’s air defence intercepted most of drones, it is the ballistics missiles which pose the biggest threat.
“Sadly, the current level of supplies for our air defence does not allow us to shoot down a significant proportion of missiles,” Zelenskyy admitted on Tuesday.
Patriot air defence system remains the only surface-to-air missile system in Ukraine’s arsenal capable of countering Moscow’s ballistic missile threat.
Manufactured in the US by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Patriots have been widely relied on by US allies – not least in the Gulf, as well as by Ukraine.
The US-Israel war on Iran has depleted almost a third of the stockpiles of Patriot interceptor, with Gulf states according to some estimates collectively firing more than 1,100 interceptors.
Lockheed Martin produces roughly 600 interceptors per year.
Zelenskyy remarked a few days ago, monthly production reached 60-65 missiles at best.
Over the past 10 days Russia launched over 60 ballistic missiles at Ukraine – the equivalent of a whole month production rate by the US producers.