Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said on Friday that Russia has restarted a systematic campaign of air strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but that its air defenses are better prepared for the attack than last year.
During the winter of last year, Russian forces launched repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy network, leaving millions of people without electricity, heat and water for long periods.
“We understand that the phase of energy terror in this heating season has already begun”Shmygal said at an economic forum in Kiev, a day after Moscow’s forces fired more than 40 cruise missiles into Ukraine.
“We see this in the first attacks on regional electricity stations over the past two weeks”he said, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency, also citing attacks on fuel production and storage facilities.
The offensive by Russian forces last winter encouraged Ukraine to strengthen its air defenses with the support of its Western military allies.
“We are much better prepared and stronger than last year. But the winter will certainly be difficult”said Shmygal. “We are better prepared for this because we understand what the enemy is preparing and the threats and challenges we all face”he added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in Washington this week to hold talks on getting more weapons from the US, saying “air defense” is one of Kiev’s priorities.
Source: DN
