Zelensky Calls for Long-Range Arms as Russia Hits Kiev Again
Ukraine requires long-range weapons to protect its cities and frontline troops from Russian bombs and drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Sunday, following a large-scale Russian drone and missile attack overnight, according to Reuters.
Overnight, Russia launched its fifth drone attack on Kiev in the past two weeks. Ukraine's air defence systems intercepted and destroyed all airborne weapons before they could reach the capital, the Ukrainian military reported.
The Ukrainian air forces reported on Telegram that their air defence systems had successfully destroyed 35 of the 39 drones and two cruise missiles launched by Russia during the night.
According to the air forces, these weapons targeted 10 of Ukraine’s regions. It was not immediately clear how many drones were aimed specifically at Kiev.
There were no reported casualties or significant damage, said Serhiy Popko, head of the military administration of the Ukrainian capital, in a Telegram update.
Just last night, the Russian army deployed nearly 40 'Shahed' drones against Ukraine. The significant point is that most were intercepted and destroyed by our air defenders,” Zelensky stated on Telegram, referring to the drones.
He emphasised the necessity of targeting Russian bombers at their air bases to safeguard Ukraine from aerial assaults.
Our sufficient long-range capabilities should serve as an appropriate response to Russian terror. All those supporting us in this regard are contributing to the defence against such terror," Zelensky added.
The President reiterated his appeal to Western allies to permit long-range strikes against Russia during his visit to London on Friday, suggesting that Britain should work to persuade its partners to lift restrictions on the use of these weapons.
NATO members have taken varied approaches regarding how Ukraine can utilise the donated weapons. Some have explicitly authorised Kiev to strike targets within Russia, while the United States has adopted a more restrictive policy, permitting the use of its weapons only within Russia’s borders against targets supporting Russian military operations in Ukraine.
Russia launched three Iskander ballistic missiles, according to the Ukrainian air forces, though the fate of these missiles was not specified.
The military administration of the Sumy region, located in northeastern Ukraine near the Russian border, reported on Telegram that a Russian missile damaged critical infrastructure in the Shostkinsky district. The administration did not provide further details about the affected infrastructure.
There was no immediate comment from Russia regarding the attacks. Moscow maintains that it does not target civilian sites in Ukraine.
These systematic drone attacks demonstrate once again that the invader is actively seeking opportunities to strike Kiev. They are testing new tactics, searching for new approaches to the capital, and attempting to uncover the locations of our air defences,” Popko said.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
