Feb. 6 - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday called for more rapid action to bolster air defences and to fix damage to power grids and heating systems following a wave of Russian night-time attacks that have overwhelmed some systems.
Over the past month, Russian forces have carried out a series of nocturnal strikes using missiles and drones that at times have eluded Ukrainian air-defence systems. Those strikes have cut electricity and, critically, heating supplies to hundreds of apartment buildings, with the capital hit particularly hard.
Zelenskiy said that after the most recent assault last Tuesday, more than 1,110 apartment blocks remained without heat. Night-time temperatures have moderated slightly but were still expected to reach -8 Celsius (18 Fahrenheit), he said.
"The small-scale air defence component, specifically countering attacks drones, must work more efficiently and prevent the problems that currently exist," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "In some areas, defence lines are built better. In others, much more work is needed." He added that personnel changes would be made in regions where air-defence performance had been less satisfactory.
The president highlighted the rapid development of Ukraine’s domestic drone sector since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, noting particular emphasis on so-called interceptor drones as a cost-efficient measure to confront waves of incoming drones. He said work must move even faster to restore basic services.
"Every day matters. All decisions must be implemented as quickly as possible," Zelenskiy said. "There are not weeks and months available for repairs or supplying equipment. Many, many things are being actively accelerated."
To speed up restorations, Zelenskiy said assistance was being redirected to Kyiv from other regions. "Everyone in Ukraine is ready to help and is truly helping Kyiv," he said, adding that many communities and state companies were directing resources to the capital.
Separately, Zelenskiy accused the Kyiv city administration led by Mayor Vitali Klitschko of failing to act decisively to address the breakdowns in the systems that left so many without heating and power.
The president’s comments underline continuing challenges in defending against and recovering from precision and drone strikes that target civilian infrastructure. He stressed both the need for improved small-scale counter-drone measures and faster logistical action on repairs and equipment delivery.