Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to one of Russia’s largest ballistic attacks on Kyiv and stressed that strengthening air defences and supplying anti-ballistic systems remain Ukraine’s top priority.
The head of state said this in his address.
According to Zelenskyy, on the night of 19 July Russian forces carried out one of the most powerful ballistic attacks on the capital since the start of the full-scale war.
“Ballistic defence is a constant and top priority right now. Interceptors are needed every day,” the President emphasised.
As of now, in Kyiv and the surrounding region, there is confirmed one killed and 16 people injured. All those affected are receiving the necessary medical care. Cleanup operations are ongoing at three locations, with nearly 600 rescuers involved. Emergency rescue work is also under way in Odesa Region.
The President said that in this week alone Russia has used against Ukraine about 1,450 attack drones, more than 1,640 guided aerial bombs, and 99 missiles of various types. Kyiv, Odesa Region, Zaporizhzhya Region, Sumy Region, Chernihiv Region, Vinnytsya Region, Dnipropetrovsk Region, Donetsk Region, Zhytomyr Region, Kirovohrad Region, Mykolayiv Region, Poltava Region, Kharkiv Region, Kherson Region, and Cherkasy Region came under Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy thanked international partners who are providing Ukraine with air defence systems and stressed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia.
“Delays in new decisions give Moscow the opportunity to plan not only new attacks against our people, but also how to evade new sanctions restrictions,” the head of state said.