Zelensky wants more systems for air defense of Ukraine

2024-11-24 21:00:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on November 24 that his country "needs more air defense systems" to protect its people as Russia continues to target Ukraine with aerial bombs, combat drones and missiles.

"Stronger defense of our skies is absolutely critical," Zelensky said, adding that Kiev is "actively working" with partners to improve the country's air defense.

Russia has launched more than 800 aerial bombardments, carried out about 460 drone strikes and about 20 missiles of various types against Ukraine in the past week alone, according to Zelensky.

Both Ukraine and Russia reported on November 24 that they had repelled several drone attacks overnight.

There are no reports of injuries on either side.

Serhiy Popko, head of Kiev's military administration, said that the air alert lasted more than three hours and that the drones "moved in different directions" of the city.

Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Russia's Kursk region in August, taking control of 1,400 square kilometers.

But a Ukrainian military source said that Kiev has now lost 40 percent of the territory it controlled in Kursk.

The United States and the United Kingdom have reportedly given Ukraine permission to strike deep into Russia with ATACMS systems and Storm Shadow missiles, respectively.

Missiles are precision tactical weapons designed to strike centers, logistics and weapons depots around the war front.

Ukraine has already used these weapons to carry out attacks in Kursk and the neighboring Belgorod region.

France has also joined the US and Britain in signaling that Ukraine could use long-range weapons against targets on Russian soil.

The French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, has said in an interview with the British broadcaster BBC that Ukraine may launch French long-range missiles at Russia, "for self-defense".

However, he did not confirm whether French weapons had already been used.

Russia, on the other hand, has strongly condemned the use of these weapons by Russia, and has vowed to carry out attacks with advanced missiles, as well as updated its nuclear doctrine.

The war in Ukraine started on February 24, 2022.

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the war a "special military operation" to demilitarize Ukraine.

The West has responded to Russia, hitting the economy of this country with harsh sanctions.

As a result of the war, thousands of people have died and millions more have been displaced from their homes./ Rel