Pentagon Chief calls on allies to provide Ukraine with air defense systems ahead of winter
United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin (Photo: Getty Images)
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has appealed to allies to provide Ukraine with anti-aircraft defense systems. This is needed to protect peaceful Ukrainians during the winter, according to the Pentagon press service.
"So as Ukraine faces another winter of war, I urge this group to provide Ukraine with air-defense capabilities to protect its people," Austin said during his speech at the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format).
He reminded that just a few days before he visited Ukraine on November 20, Putin's forces launched a new barrage of missile strikes on Kyiv and other areas of Ukraine, trying to damage the country's power system.
"Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure could mean suffering and death for countless innocent Ukrainian citizens," Austin emphasized.
But, as the minister noted, he is confident that the Ukrainian people will endure the difficulties because they are fighting for their future.
Russian strikes on the energy system
Last winter, Russian occupiers repeatedly attacked the Ukrainian energy system. Mass attacks on infrastructure objects began in October 2022 and lasted throughout the winter.
As a result of such shelling across Ukraine, problems with electricity supply began. The authorities had to implement daily schedules for power outages.
But now Ukraine is actively preparing for repeated strikes this winter. In particular, energy facilities have received three levels of protection against drones and missiles.
