Key takeaways:
– President Zelensky attributed the large scale drone attacks by Russia to its circumvention of sanctions.
– He reported that a record number of attack drones – 188 to be precise, were launched against Ukraine.
– The drones contained numerous foreign components, urging for more robust sanction enforcement to halt the attacks.
– Damage to critical infrastructural elements was seen, with the Ukrainian administration making efforts to restore power supply and other services.
Heavy Drone Attack Wracks Ukraine
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that a significant onslaught involving drone attacks was only possible due to Russia maneuvering around sanctions. With an unprecedented total of 188 drones deployed against Ukrainian citizens, this assault marked a new escalation in the ongoing conflict.
“Our country has recently weathered a severe aerial onslaught. I would like to express my gratitude to our robust defenders in the sky”, conveys President Zelensky, who reported that nearly 80 of the late-night offensive drones were taken down, while over 90 were lost at the local level.
With this sudden upsurge in hostility, it’s evident that tensions between the two nations have reached a boiling point. Regrettably, civilian infrastructure suffered damage due to this attack, leaving a grim aftermath that necessitates swift repairs and restoration.
Critical Infrastructure Hit, Restoration in Progress
The aftermath of the large-scale attacks, particularly in Ternopil, has been challenging. The city’s critical infrastructure endured significant damage, leading to power outages among other issues. In response, emergency and repair teams have been mobilized to work round-the-clock to restore services and offer help to the citizenry.
“We are putting our best foot forward to re-establish the electricity supply as rapidly as possible,” said President Zelensky in his statement.
Foreign Components and the Role of International Sanctions
President Zelensky pointed out that each of the 188 drones used in the attack contained 85 foreign parts. He believes that the collection and assembly of such a large number of components would have been impossible without the breach of sanctions by Russia.
He stated, “This figure, close to 16,000 elements without which the drones would not have been able to take flight, indicates a clear bypassing of sanctions by Russia through a variety of crafty methods.”
The Ukraine leader urged for stronger international support to ensure the successful functioning of the sanctions, to make Russia relent and halt its unprovoked warfare, and to ultimately cease Russian aggression.
Sanction Breaches Must Stop
President Zelensky underscored the crucial issue of Russia’s circumvention of sanctions, regardless of global condemnation of its aggressive behavior. It’s clear that real opposition to the ongoing conflict must involve stopping Russia’s underhanded tactics to bypass sanctions.
He also noted the efforts of those blocking offending supplies across the world. However, their work, while commendable, only suggests that more work is needed towards effective sanction enforcement.
Continued Aggression and All-Time High Attack Numbers
Continued aggression by the Russian forces is a concern for the Ukraine administration. A record number of Shahed-type strike UAVs, along with unidentified drones, attacked from various regions including Orel, Briansk, Kursk, and Prymorsko-Akhtarsk.
According to reports, Ukraine’s Air Force detected and tracked 192 air targets. The equipment and manpower of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defense Forces played a crucial part in blocking the attack.
Conclusion
The recent drone attack constituted the latest and perhaps most alarming escalation in the continuous hostilities. The President’s statement above all underlines the urgent need for the international community to redouble its efforts not only in enforcing sanctions but also in helping Ukraine restore its critical infrastructure post-attack.