Ukraine Calls for Increased Missile Defenses Following Russian Attacks

Facts

• In the wake of escalating Russian attacks, Ukraine has this week reiterated its call to Western allies for increased missile defenses. Moscow's attack on Tuesday — targeting Kyiv and Kharkiv with 99 missiles and 61 drones — killed five civilians and injured scores more.¹
• The attacks also left an estimated 260K people without power in Kyiv, as well as causing 'significant' disruption to the capital's internet connectivity per internet outage monitoring sites. Power was largely restored by the end of the day, according to reports.²
• Following the attack, a range of Ukrainian officials reminded Western partners of the country's need for greater missile defense capabilities. Dmytro Kuelba, Ukraine's foreign minister, publicly urged allies to 'respond decisively' to the attack, particularly by 'accelerating the supply' of missile defense systems, drones, and long-range weapons.¹
• Meanwhile, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, head of Ukraine's Armed Forces, said air defenses shot down all 10 Russian 'Kinzhal' missiles in Tuesday's attack. Thanking partners for the existing missile defense systems, he said that had the missiles reached their targets, there would have been 'catastrophic' consequences. However, he added that there was no indication Russia would stop further attacks thus requiring Ukraine to have more systems and ammunition.³
• In the meantime, according to a statement from the office of Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader spoke by phone with British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Tuesday, reportedly telling Sunak that Russia has fired over 500 missiles over the past five days. According to the readout, Zelenskyy thanked Sunak for Britain's delivery of radars and advanced anti-drone systems, but also reiterated Ukraine's need to strengthen its missile defenses.⁴
• Since then, Russia and Ukraine exchanged fresh attacks on Wednesday. Russia's Defense Ministry said it shot down 12 Ukrainian missiles over the border city of Belgorod, targeted in repeated Ukrainian attacks over the past week, and a missile was also shot down over Crimea. Meanwhile, Russian missile strikes were recorded in the Donetsk city of Avdiivka and the southern region of Kherson; one civilian was reported killed in each attack and two civilians were also reported killed following Russian artillery fire in the Zaporizhzhia region.⁵

Sources: ¹Kyivpost, ²The Record, ³Ukrainska Pravda, ⁴President and ⁵TASS.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Atlantic Council. With Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin sending as many as 500 missiles into Ukraine over the past five days — prompting many Ukrainians to spend much of their New Year period in bomb shelters — he has given an indication of the Kremlin’s intentions for the coming weeks. It's more imperative than ever that Ukraine is fitted with all the missile defense capabilities it needs.
• Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by President. Russia's attacks on Ukraine over the past week are nothing short of premeditated terror. Ukraine not only needs the necessary missile defense capabilities but also the weapons needed to defeat Russia and stop it from spreading to Europe and elsewhere. Ukraine is confident its partners will continue to help fight for these necessary aims.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Russia has reiterated time and again that its attacks only target sites of military importance. However, the same cannot be said of Ukraine. Kyiv's use of cluster munitions to attack the Russian city of Belgorod killed 25 people and left a further 100 needing treatment. This is a flagrant violation of international law and world agencies like the UN need to condemn this behavior.

Predictions