In a dramatic escalation, Russia has hit Ukraine with 900 strikes in just one week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed. Facing an unprecedented surge of missiles, drones, and guided bombs, Zelenskyy has issued a renewed call for Western allies to step up. “These attacks would have been impossible if we had sufficient support from the world,” he asserted, stressing the critical need for long-range weaponry to protect Ukraine’s vulnerable cities.
Moscow’s latest overnight strike included a massive barrage of 96 drones and a guided missile targeting various Ukrainian regions. Ukrainian air defenses managed to destroy 66 drones and jam 27 others, with one drone crossing into Belarusian airspace. Miraculously, no casualties were reported, but the psychological and strategic toll on Ukraine has been profound.
Zelenskyy’s appeal goes beyond weapons. He’s urging Western leaders to tighten sanctions on Russia, especially to block critical imports that feed its drone and missile production. Last month alone, Russia launched over 2,000 drones and missiles containing Western components, Zelenskyy noted. His plea calls attention to possible sanctions loopholes that may be allowing Russia to bypass restrictions and continue arming its forces.
Meanwhile, Russia has claimed that it’s also under attack. The Russian Defense Ministry reported intercepting 19 Ukrainian drones in multiple regions, and a civilian casualty was reported in the Belgorod region after one of Ukraine’s strikes. These incidents highlight the heightened cross-border hostilities that are intensifying on both sides.
As Zelenskyy awaits a definitive response from his Western partners, the question looms: will increased support be enough to break Russia’s relentless drone and missile campaigns?
Sources for this article include: Asharq Al-Awsat, The Associated Press.
