Ukrainian President Zelensky calls for increased Western air defense amid Russian assaults

Ukraine’s leader calls for more robust defense support from Western allies following Russian drone strike in Odesa that killed at least 11, including a baby and a child

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urgently appealed to Western nations for enhanced air-defence capabilities, following deadly Russian attacks that have claimed at least 11 lives.

The appeal comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure from Russian forces, highlighted by recent advancements in the two-year-long conflict.

A drone strike in Odesa on Saturday resulted in eight fatalities, including a child and a baby, as reported by a regional official. The attack in Odesa caused the collapse of several floors of a nine-story residential building. Approximately 10 individuals remain missing, with rescue operations continuing through the night.

Further assaults in the Kharkiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions have added to the toll, bringing the death count to 11. “Russia continues to hit civilians,” President Zelensky stated, emphasizing the urgent need for additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainians from what he termed “Russian terror.”

These developments coincide with Ukraine struggling against resource limitations and delays in Western military support. A significant $60-billion aid package from the United States is currently pending as Ukraine grapples with ammunition shortages.

The situation on the battlefield remains precarious. Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s newly appointed Commander-in-Chief, described it as “difficult but controlled.” Despite being outgunned and outnumbered, Ukrainian forces continue to resist Russian advancements.

In a retaliatory move, Ukraine appears to have conducted its own drone attack on Saturday, targeting Saint Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city. The strike resulted in structural damage to a residential building, but no casualties were reported. The incident has been primarily attributed to a downed Ukrainian drone.

Amidst these tensions, Russia expressed indignation over a leak from German army talks discussing potential missile strikes on Crimea. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has assured a thorough investigation into the matter.

Source: Newsroom