According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine must also prepare for Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure this winter. “We must be prepared for the possibility that the enemy will increase the number of drone or missile attacks on our infrastructure,” Zelensky said in his evening video message on Sunday.
Last winter, Russia massively attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. For thousands of people, this meant long power outages or heating in freezing winter temperatures. “All our attention must be focused on defense,” Zelensky added in his video message, referring to the feared new attacks. “Here is everything Ukraine can do to make it easier for our people to get through this winter and increase the capabilities of our troops.”
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian air defense is stronger than it was a year ago. We are also working with several western countries to improve them daily. However, there is still no complete protection of the entire territory. Kiev has already received numerous weapons from its Western allies to strengthen its air defense, including the US Patriot defense system.
On Sunday, Zelensky’s adviser Andriy Yermak and Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko traveled to the US to discuss further support. As announced by the chief of staff of the Kiev presidential office, talks are planned at the White House, the US Congress and with political and civil society organizations. “I am grateful to our partners for their support of Ukraine. Together we are strong,” said Yermak.
However, the situation on the battlefield remained difficult. As the Ukrainian General Staff reported on Sunday night, the fighting around the town of Mariinka, a few kilometers west of the industrial city of Donetsk, was particularly intense. About a third of all battles in the last 24 hours took place in this section of the front, with 20 battles. The Russians attacked the town of Avdiivka, located north of Donetsk – and also heavily contested – only half as frequently during this period.
In the southern sector of the front, the Ukrainian army said it was continuing its offensive towards the large city of Melitopol. On Sunday afternoon, the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR reported an explosion in Melitopol in which at least three high-ranking officers of the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya) were said to have been killed. Kremlin-appointed regional crew chief Vladimir Rogov wrote on Telegram in the evening that an “explosion-like noise” in the city was allegedly caused by faulty gas equipment in a vehicle. According to him, no one was injured.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a war of Russian aggression for nearly 21 months. Kiev depends heavily on support from the West. Last winter, the Russian army increased its attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure with drones, missiles and cruise missiles, further exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population. Since then, Ukrainian air defense has been significantly strengthened by Western weapons systems.