Russia’s Defense Ministry said the uncrewed aircraft attacking Moscow were among 67 Ukrainian drones shot down overnight.
“We are working to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense,” Zelenskyy said, according to a readout posted to his office’s website.
“We urgently need positive signals from the United States — concrete signals regarding air defense systems.
“We must also achieve results in the joint production of air defense systems and missiles for them — this is absolutely essential for our whole Europe.
“We are aware that the Russians are now trying to show that they are allegedly immune to any pressure,” Zelenskyy added.
LONDON — The mayor of the city said that at least ten Ukrainian drones were shot down as they approached Moscow overnight and into Sunday morning. Two airports in the capital have been temporarily placed under restrictions.
According to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, emergency personnel were sent to the locations where the downed drones had impact. According to Russia’s defense ministry, 67 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight, including the uncrewed aircraft attacking Moscow.
Governor Dmitry Milyaev of the Tula region, south of the capital, reported that a drone struck the Azot chemical plant in Novomoskovsk, causing a fire there due to falling debris. According to Milyaev’s Telegram post, two people were hurt. “The situation is under control,” he declared.
In an Azot facility Telegram post, Andriy Kovalenko, the head of the Counter-Disinformation Center run by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, stated. Explosives are made here, especially TNT, which is used in missiles, aircraft bombs, and artillery shells. “.
Overnight, Russian forces continued their own long-range attacks on Ukraine; according to Ukraine’s air force, three missiles and 49 drones were fired into the nation. According to the Air Force’s Telegram post, 40 drones were shot down or otherwise neutralized.
Both sides’ long-range strike operations have gotten more intense in recent weeks, despite U.S. A. In an effort to stop Russia’s three-year-old invasion of its neighbor, mediated peace negotiations are still ongoing.
In response to Russia’s increasing missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities across the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Saturday night that his country must “urgently” improve its air defense capabilities.
Among those targeted this weekend was Kharkiv, a city in the northeast that is about 19 miles from the Russian border. As per the head of the local military administration, there were at least three fatalities and twenty-three injuries on Saturday. Officials reported that at least four additional people were killed by strikes in other parts of the nation.
Zelenskyy stated, “We are working to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense,” in a readout placed on the website of his office. “We urgently need the United States to send us encouraging signals about air defense systems. To date, we have not received a response to our request to purchase helpful systems—specific signals, not just words. “..”.
Adding, “I would like to thank the European countries for the supplies,” he said. Additionally, we must produce air defense systems and missiles for them jointly; this is crucial for the entire European Union. We are only separated from that outcome by time, and the most important thing is to reduce that time. “.”.
As evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not sincere in his seeming desire to negotiate a peace agreement, Zelenskyy and his top officials have pointed to Russia’s increasing attacks and rising numbers of civilian deaths in Ukraine.
Russia’s recent attacks come after a secret Ukrainian operation last weekend in which agents attacked strategic bomber bases deep inside Russia with over 100 drones hidden in big trucks. The strikes were hailed as a historic success by Ukrainian officials, and Moscow promised retaliation.
Zelenskyy reiterated his call for Western allies to do more to pressure Putin into easing maximalist peace demands that equate to Ukrainian capitulation, saying on Saturday that Russia’s recent strikes on Ukrainian cities cannot be justified as “retaliation.”.
According to him, “no kind of pressure on Russia can be eased.”. “The Russians are disregarding any peace proposals and are getting ready to escalate the conflict. They have to take responsibility for this. “,”.
In addition, Zelenskyy stated, “We are aware that the Russians are now trying to show that they are allegedly immune to any pressure.”. The world must realize, however, that pressure can compel Russia to become realistic in negotiations, just as pressure compelled Russia to enter the negotiation process. “,”.
According to him, “the pressure and sanctions on Russian oil and those who continue to trade with Russia are the main reasons this is possible.”. “Russia needs to stop the war it initiated. They have to be coerced into this conclusion. “..”.
Victoria Beaule, Anna Sergeeva, and Oleksii Pshemyskyi of ABC News contributed to this story.
