Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urgently appealed for a robust defense against the “Russian missile terror,” urging for a comprehensive air defense shield to safeguard his nation in the face of ongoing missile attacks in the Donetsk region and the Black Sea port city of Odesa. Zelensky called upon Western allies to provide Ukraine with additional anti-aircraft systems to protect the entire country.
“Ukraine needs a full-fledged sky shield – this is the only way to defeat Russian missile terror. We have already shown that we can shoot down even the Russian missiles that the terrorists boasted about,” the Ukrainian president wrote on Twitter.
“Thanks to the help of our partners and the air defense systems provided to Ukraine, our defenders of the sky have saved thousands of lives. But we need more air defense systems for our entire territory, for all our cities and communities. The world must not get used to Russian terror – terror must be defeated. And it is possible!”
The call for enhanced defense measures comes following a fresh wave of attacks on Odesa, including strikes that targeted grain storage facilities.
The situation remains challenging for Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts against the well-entrenched Russian military, which maintains air superiority along much of the frontline, presenting further complications for the smaller Ukrainian armed forces.
While the Biden administration has approved the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, the country is still awaiting delivery, and the training of pilots to operate these warplanes is a time-consuming process that can take months.
Currently, the U.S. has supplied Ukraine with two complete Patriot anti-aircraft systems, and Raytheon, the weapons manufacturer, plans to send five more systems to the country by the end of the next year.
Source:{Matzav.com}