Ukraine seeks ‘air shield’ to counter Russian missiles and Iranian drones
Russian missiles again hit Ukrainian cities but with less intensity than on Monday, when dozens of strikes killed 19 people, wounded more than 100 and knocked out power supplies across the country in Moscow’s biggest aerial offensive since the start of its invasion on 24 February.
Mr Zelenskyy’s government has mixed gratitude for such aid with pleas for more powerful weapons and faster deliveries.
‘Uncontrolled escalation’
It also condemned “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilian populations” as war crimes and said Mr Putin would be held to account for them.
Mr Zelenskyy denied Minsk’s claim that Ukraine planned to attack Belarus but told the G7 he wanted to make sure there was no threat from its northern neighbour, and he called for a mission of international observers to monitor the border area.
“(Putin) thinks that if he scares the population, he can ask for concessions, but he is not scaring us. He is pissing us off,” she said as her sons, Timur, 5, and Rinat, 3, sat by her side on a sleeping bag, the younger playing with a King Kong action figure.
Air shield request
“The enemy is trying to save on missiles… these Shaheds are much cheaper, they can be used much more frequently and in pairs. We are seeing that the enemy can even launch several of these kamikaze drones for one attack,” he said.
More strikes
NATO has not noticed any change in Russia’s nuclear posture following the threats, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels on Tuesday.
Ukraine’s emergency services deal with missile strikes in Zaporizhzia, Tuesday 11 October 2022. Credit: State Emergency Service of Ukrai/Cover Images
Mr Stoltenberg also said NATO allies would meet any attacks on critical infrastructure with a “united and determined response”. It remains unclear who was behind explosions last month affecting gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea. Moscow has denied any involvement and pointed the finger at the United States.
Russia said it continued to launch long-range air strikes on Ukraine’s energy and military infrastructure on Tuesday.
Ukraine did not immediately comment on the incident.