This week Zelenskyy made a grim prediction. Following a meeting in New York with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, he warned: “There’s intelligence right now that Russia is preparing a new massive attack against Ukraine.”
9 Killed in Overnight Assault
Neptune Missile. Image Credit: Government of Ukraine.
Ukraine War Map. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Overnight on September 23-24, Kyiv was bombarded with three waves of ballistic missile attacks.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia fired 282 drones. Russia also launched hypersonic and ballistic missiles.
Two civilians in Kyiv were killed, and a maternity hospital was hit, according to Ukrainian authorities. In addition, seven people were killed and 12 injured in the Kharkiv region.
As people slept, “flashes from explosions lit up the sky.” “Once again, the main targets of their strike were Kyiv and civilian infrastructure, residential buildings, a maternity hospital, energy infrastructure, and logistics,” said Zelenskyy, calling on the United States to respond promptly by supplying it with ballistic missile interceptors.
Zelenskyy has stated via Telegram that no easing of sanctions on Russia should be on the table, “while Ukrainians live every day under the threat of missile and drone attacks.”
The UN human rights office reported on Thursday that attacks on Ukraine had reached a “new level of intensity.” According to estimates released on Thursday, as many as 200 civilians in Ukraine have been killed and more than 1,200 injured so far this month.
Russian T-72 Tank Ukraine War. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Russia’s New Drone Threat
One way Russia has stepped up its attacks is by using jet-powered Shahed drones, which are more difficult to detect and shoot down than propeller-driven ones.
“Shaheds used to fly lower – one or 1.5 kilometers [above ground], and we could work on them… jet-powered drones now fly at four, five, even seven kilometers. It’s not realistic for us to down them,” said a Ukrainian mobile air defense system operator known as ‘Raccoon’ in an interview with Reuters.
According to Ukrainian defense officials, Ukrainian forces have shot down only 60% of the jet-powered drones. At the same time, they intercepted more than 90% of propeller-driven drones.
Kyiv Still Needs Interceptors
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s more immediate priority is to find a way to defend itself against Russian attacks in the short term. “I believe that we will resolve the issue of jet-powered drones in the short term.
But as with all other aspects of buying weapons, everything comes down to financial resources,” said Ukrainian MP Fedir Venislavskyi.
Ukraine is looking into using its own interceptor drones to combat Russia’s unmanned aircraft and is currently using both indigenous and Western-made missiles to down them.
Ballistic missiles, however, present a more complex problem for Ukraine.
After meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this week, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has developed effective defenses against cruise missiles and drones. “The only effective option is Patriot interceptors, which we need practically every day,” he stressed.
Attacks on Ukraine’s industrial facilities are also taking a toll.
On Friday, steel giant ArcelorMittal said that after four attacks on its facilities in the Kryvyi Rih mining and steelmaking works in the past five weeks, “It is with deep regret that we have concluded that we are no longer able to safely operate ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih.” The firm said it was discussing the plant’s future with the Ukrainian authorities.
Ukraine Steps Up Long-Range Russian Attacks
According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, Russia has been targeting Ukraine’s defense industry, logistics, and military ships.
However, Ukraine has significantly stepped up its long-range strikes inside Russia to target oil and gas facilities, as well as defense production, reported TASS.
At the same time, Washington is trying to restart negotiations. “The President and I have got to figure out a solution,” said Donald Trump. “And I think it’s going to happen.
I really do believe it’s going to happen.” Burnham reiterated that Britain “remains four-square behind Ukraine” and supports continued economic and financial pressure on Russia.
At least, it seems, an initiative to restart negotiations is now underway. “The American side has proposed… meeting at a technical level in a three-way format,” said Zelenskyy on Friday. “We are awaiting a proposal from the United States regarding the date, and the United States has suggested the Emirates as a possible location,” he went on.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education. You can follow her on X: @llggeorgia.
