Ukraine is beefing up its air defenses in anticipation of

Ukraine is beefing up its air defenses in anticipation of Russian attacks this winter

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday his country had deployed new air defense systems from its Western allies in anticipation of a new wave of Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure this winter.

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Last winter, systematic attacks on Ukraine’s energy system regularly left thousands of houses without heating.

“I received confirmation yesterday of the receipt of ammunition, materials and equipment,” Mr. Zelensky said in a message posted online.

“The Nasams systems (Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System, editor’s note) provided by our partners have been put into service. “This is a timely reinforcement of our anti-aircraft defenses before winter,” he added.

In particular, Ukraine has US-made Patriot air defense systems, its French-Italian equivalent Samp/T Mamba, Iris-T batteries and German-made Gepard armored anti-aircraft vehicles, although not in sufficient quantities to cover an area larger than that of France .

Russia carries out its attacks with its full arsenal of cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as large quantities of Iranian-made drones.