'Response to Diplomacy': Zelenskyy Slams Brutal Russian Strikes
President Zelenskyy slams Russia's latest wave of missile and drone attacks, calling for urgent Patriot interceptors as winter approaches.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a scathing condemnation of Russia's recent military campaign, describing a wave of devastating strikes as the Kremlin's response to "diplomacy and deisolation." In a detailed account of the carnage, the President highlighted the immense human and infrastructural toll caused by a relentless barrage of aerial assaults over the past week.
A Week of Aerial Terror
The scale of the offensive has been staggering. According to President Zelenskyy, Russia unleashed a massive volume of weaponry against Ukrainian territory in just seven days, including:
- 1,600 guided aerial bombs
- 48 missiles of various types, including ballistic missiles
- Nearly 2,300 attack drones
Zelenskyy lamented that these "brutal strikes" have become a daily occurrence, leaving a trail of casualties and destruction across the nation.
Civilian Casualties and 'Double-Tap' Attacks
The human cost of these strikes has been severe, with reports of deaths and injuries in multiple cities. In the Dnipro region, strikes claimed the lives of four people and left 22 others injured, including an 11-year-old girl.
The violence extended to residential areas in Vinnytsia, where a Russian drone struck a high-rise apartment building, injuring six people. However, one of the most "cynical" incidents occurred in Kharkiv. Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces first targeted a home improvement hypermarket and then executed a "double-tap" strike—hitting the scene a second time specifically to target the emergency services and first responders who had arrived to help the victims.
Infrastructure Under Fire
Beyond the immediate civilian casualties, Russia has targeted critical infrastructure to cripple the country's functionality. Damage has been reported across nine different regions, with strikes hitting:
- Thermal power plants and electrical substations
- Coal mines and grain storage facilities
- Shopping malls and a postal logistics hub
Urgent Plea for Air Defences
With winter approaching, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine's survival depends on the immediate strengthening of its air defence systems. He warned that international support must not dwindle even as negotiation processes are discussed.
The President made a specific and urgent call for the following:
- Patriot Interceptors: He urged European countries to "unblock" the deliveries of interceptors that have already been approved.
- Combat Aviation: He stressed the need for continued support for Ukrainian combat aircraft to counter the threat of jet-powered "Shahed" drones.
"Every such defence package, especially ahead of winter, helps save lives," Zelenskyy stated, while expressing gratitude to the partners who continue to provide critical military support.