President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pointed to the absence of air defense missiles as the reason Ukraine couldn't stop a recent Russian missile strike that devastated the largest power plant near Kyiv. Zelenskiy's remarks underscore the critical shortage of air defenses in Ukraine, as Russia intensifies its assaults on the country's energy infrastructure.
"We managed to intercept the first seven missiles, but we lacked the means to protect Trypillia. We simply ran out of missiles," Zelenskiy disclosed in an interview with PBS, though Reuters couldn't independently verify his account. He previously cautioned that Ukraine faces difficult choices in prioritizing defense resources, warning of a complete depletion of defensive capabilities if Russian attacks persist.
The Trypilska thermal power plant, obliterated in the March 11 strike, was Kyiv's primary energy source, boasting a capacity exceeding the city's pre-war requirements. Although other facilities and imports are temporarily bridging the gap, residents are urged to conserve power.
Since mid-March, Russia has intensified its assault on Ukraine's energy grid with combined missile and drone strikes, marking the second major attack since the invasion two years prior. These strikes have inflicted significant damage on power generation and transmission capabilities, resulting in the loss of approximately 7 gigawatts of capacity.
Moscow claims these attacks aim to undermine Ukraine's defensive capabilities and are retaliation for alleged assaults within Russia. However, Western allies have been hesitant to bolster Ukraine's air defenses, despite its request for 25 Patriot systems to adequately cover its territory. Germany has committed to providing an additional system following urgent appeals from Kyiv.
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