In light of the constant barrage of Russian airstrikes hitting the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a plea with international allies to deliver urgently needed air defence systems.
“It is quite obvious that the air defence capacities we have in Ukraine are not enough – and this is clear to all our partners,” Zelensky said in his evening video message on Sunday.
“We are looking for ways to provide Kharkiv with more air defence,” he said, urging all Ukrainian diplomats and international negotiators to seek agreements for new supplies.
Zelensky has long been calling for additional US-made Patriot air defence systems and previously said in a TV interview that his country needed at least 25 of these systems to fend off Russian attacks.
Ukraine, fending off a large-scale Russian invasion for over two years now, has once again noticed an increased Russian military focus on Kharkiv, currently taking more fire than all other cities.
According to the local prosecutor’s office, two aerial bombs struck Kharkiv at midday on Sunday, injuring five people, while also damaging 13 apartment blocks and other buildings. On Friday night, six people were killed and 11 injured.
David Turner is a globe-trotting journalist who brings a global perspective to our readers. With a commitment to shedding light on international events, he explores complex geopolitical issues, offering a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
