Anti-ballistic capabilities remain Ukraine’s weak spot, but they are expected to be strengthened next year. Ukraine is counting on developing its own anti-ballistic system and also has agreements on supplies from Germany.
Separately, the United States will increase production volumes of anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems next year. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this at a briefing after talks with American and European representatives, LB’s correspondent reports.
“We will become stronger. I had meetings in Norway and Canada. We need to close a few gaps. Our Ukrainian anti-ballistic system. We will have the relevant meetings soon,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He noted that today, on the day of the talks, the enemy is not shelling Kyiv. But such dependence on the will of one person, Vladimir Putin, is not normal.
“The last few days — truly, it has been simply horrific, above all what is happening in the sky. Putin is doing this ahead of his elections, I am absolutely sure of it. Because he is increasing the strikes, terrorising our children, strikes from morning until night. A new tactic. We will respond in kind — and we are already doing so — until the terror ends and the war ends,” the President said.
As things stand, 67 companies in Ukraine are producing means capable of shooting down Russian jet-powered drones. Three to five companies have already shown results and are working on mass production. But this is Plan B, while Plan A is to accelerate diplomatic efforts as much as possible and reduce escalation.
“From our side we talk about Russia’s escalation, while our partners say — from both sides,” the President said.
- Since 27 August, Russia has changed its tactics for strikes on Kyiv and the capital Region. Previously, the Russian forces hit the city mainly at night with a massive strike in several waves; now it has begun continuously launching jet-powered drones. In some places, the break between air-raid alerts was only a few minutes.
- Russian strikes have led to numerous injuries and civilian Ukrainian casualties. In particular, the Russian army killed a two-year-old girl in a Kyiv park on a day off.