Ukraine pushes air defence expansion as Russian attacks intensify

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine’s top diplomatic priority is strengthening international cooperation on air defence, as the country continues to face sustained Russian strikes on its cities.

Writing on his Telegram channel, Zelenskyy said: “We need missiles for air defence every day — every day the Russians continue strikes on our cities,” listing Dnipro, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Chernihiv, Donetsk region, and Zaporizhzhia among the affected areas. He noted that in Dnipro, five people were killed in a single day, in Cherkasy an eight-year-old boy was killed, and in Zaporizhzhia a strike on a bus stop resulted in one fatality.

“Russia does not change its tactics of combined strikes, and we must be ready to intercept all types of aerial targets. That is why the PURL program, which allows us to receive necessary anti-ballistic missiles, must continue to operate,” he said.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine has recently secured additional contributions from Germany and Norway to the program. He also confirmed an agreement with Germany on PAC-2 missiles for Ukraine’s air defence systems, as well as additional launchers for IRIS-T systems. Further arrangements with Norway are also aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities.

“There are also agreements with Norway to strengthen our air defence. We are preparing new agreements with other partners as well,” he said.

The president also emphasized plans for expanded defence cooperation with European partners, including joint production of air defence systems, missiles, and drones. “We are also working so that here in Europe we can jointly produce all necessary air defence systems, missiles for them, and every type of drone without which real defence in modern warfare is impossible,” he said.

He added that additional capabilities are expected to be secured by the end of the week through cooperation with European partners on drones and joint production initiatives.

“Every Russian strike will be met with our response — our long-range sanctions against the aggressor, internal development of the defence system, and cooperation with partners who truly value life,” Zelenskyy said.

By Vafa Guliyeva