Zelenskyy urges allies to send Patriot missiles as Russia steps up ballistic attacks
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: president.gov.ua)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed participants of the OSCE session, saying that Russia tries to break the resistance of the Ukrainian people with ballistic missiles. He called for stronger air defenses for Ukraine in response.
The president stressed that Russia employs ballistic missiles as its final argument to continue the war, and that this is what the Kremlin is counting on.
"They want ballistic missiles to break our resistance and the will of the Ukrainian people. That is why we need more air defense. It's about protecting lives every single day. Ukraine critically needs Patriot interceptors. And we all know, our partners have them. What is needed now is the political will to provide them, first, and foremost, in the United States. Please help make this happen," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He noted that today is US Independence Day, and that America, together with the free world, can help Ukraine defend its independence from Russia.
Zelenskyy therefore urged Ukraine's partners to continue speaking out clearly against Russian terror and to highlight Ukraine's need for stronger air defenses.
"Help make sure our air defense, our Patriot systems, never run out of the missiles they need. That is what saves lives," the head of state concluded.
#Zelenskyy addresses #OSCE session, calls for stronger air defenses for #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/1LmzHt0yIz
— RBC-Ukraine (@NewsUkraineRBC) July 4, 2026
Russian strikes, Ukraine's air defense
Earlier, on the night of July 2, the Russian Federation launched a combined massive attack on Ukraine, with Kyiv as the main target. The assault caused widespread destruction and damage across the capital.
The following morning, Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia had launched 570 aerial weapons against the country, of which Ukraine's air defenses destroyed or suppressed 524.
Most of the targets that were not intercepted were Iskander-M ballistic missiles and Zircon anti-ship missiles. Nearly all of them penetrated Ukraine's air defenses.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev recently said that Ukraine and Germany are jointly developing an air defense system designed to protect the entire European continent. He stressed that the project will be capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
