Zelensky wants more anti-aircraft defense to deter Russia and protect Ukrainian infrastructure
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today called for more air defense systems to protect Ukraine’s cities and its energy infrastructure, arguing that they are the answer to stopping the Russian invasion.
“It is the terror inspired by missiles and bombs that helps Russian troops advance on the ground,” said Zelensky in Berlin, during the third International Conference for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.
“As long as we do not deprive Russia of the possibility of terrorizing Ukraine, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin will have no real interest in seeking a just peace,” he added, assuring that “air defense is the answer.”
Zelensky further stated that Russian bombing of Ukrainian energy infrastructure has led to a halving of Ukraine’s electricity production since the winter.
“Russian missile and drone attacks have already destroyed nine gigawatts of capacity. Last winter’s peak electricity consumption was 18 gigawatts. So half of that is gone today,” Zelensky said.
According to the Ukrainian leader, 80% of thermal production and a third of hydroelectric production were destroyed by Russian attacks, which in recent months have hit numerous Ukrainian power plants, after a bombing campaign the previous year that had already led to massive cuts.
OLIVIER MATTHYS
Zelensky also accused Russia of targeting gas storage facilities and systems linking Ukraine’s electricity grid to the EU’s.
As a result of the Russian attacks, the national operator Ukrenergo today announced the extension of energy rationing to the entire country.
“Today, restrictions have been extended to all of Ukraine from 2pm to 11pm (12pm to 9pm in Lisbon), said Ukrenergo, which organizes the rotation of power cuts.
The previous day, rationing hours were two hours shorter and the company hoped today that restrictions could be limited from 2pm to 7pm (12pm to 5pm).
But “consumption continues to increase”, while “Ukrainian power plants are unable to produce as much electricity as before the attacks due to the considerable damage they suffered”, Ukrenergo said.
According to the same source, imports from European countries are not enough to compensate for the system’s deficit.
Energy security and the restoration of Ukraine’s electrical grid are one of the 10 points of the Ukrainian President’s peace plan, which will be on the agenda of a summit in Switzerland , on June 15th and 16th, to which Russia was not invited.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov told journalists today that Ukrainian electrical installations were legitimate “military” targets.
