Air Defence for Ukraine: Borrell Names Priority for Defence Committee's Work
The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, made a statement regarding Russia's latest massive missile attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. According to the diplomat, Ukraine urgently needs to strengthen its air defense system, as stated in his Twitter post.
"Last night, Russia launched another massive attack on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, adding to a long list of its war crimes. Ukraine urgently needs adequate air defense systems. This will be a priority in the Defense Committee's work, along with the launch of the Aid Fund for Ukraine," wrote the chief European diplomat.
Recall that on the night of May 8, Russian aggressors launched 55 missiles and 20 kamikaze drones of the "Shahed" type at energy infrastructure targets in six regions of Ukraine — Lviv, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, and Ivano-Frankivsk.
Ukrainian fighter aircraft, anti-aircraft missile troops of the Air Force, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units of the Defense Forces were involved in repelling the air attack. As a result of the air battle, 59 air targets were destroyed, but some still managed to hit their targets. In particular, the occupiers attacked production and transmission facilities of Ukrenergo, as well as three thermal power plants of DTEK, causing significant damage to equipment.
"There is damage to generation facilities. Equipment has been damaged at one of Ukrenergo's facilities in the central region," Ukrenergo reported.
Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko announced that energy workers are already working on eliminating Russian strikes and assessing damage. Ukraine has also had to significantly increase electricity imports from EU countries to compensate for losses caused by the Russian attack.
"The enemy is not giving up plans to deprive Ukrainians of light. Another massive attack on our energy infrastructure! Generation and transmission facilities are under attack. The enemy wants to deprive us of the ability to produce and transmit electricity adequately," said Halushchenko.