Zelenskyy: Missile attacks are Russia's attempt to compensate for failures in the east and south

Kateryna Tyshchenko - Tuesday, 17 May 2022, 23:54

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has emphasised that Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian territories are an attempt to compensate for a series of failures in the east and south.

Source: Presidential video address

Quote: "The 83rd day of our defence started with a rather serious combination of Russian strikes on Ukraine. Missile attack in Lviv Oblast, Sumy region, Chernihiv region, air strikes in Luhansk Oblast, specific sabotage activity in the border areas of Ukraine.

All this is not just creating tension for our state, nor is it simply testing our strength. This is an attempt of sorts by the Russian army to compensate for a series of failures in the east and south of our country.

They cannot demonstrate success with general military action in the areas where they are trying to advance. So they are trying to show success through their missiles and other activities. Also to no avail."

Details: According to Zelenskyy, these Russian missile strikes, like the others before them, do not radically change anything.

"Especially since our air defence and anti-sabotage measures are becoming stronger," he said.

Background: Russian forces shelled a military facility in the Yavorivsk district of Lviv Oblast on the night of 17 May, with missile debris damaging railway infrastructure.

At dawn, Russian troops struck the town of Okhtyrka in Sumy Oblast with missiles; at least five people were injured.

Also on the morning of 17 May, a rocket attack was launched on the village of Desna in Chernihiv Oblast, killing and injuring people.

Russia also continues shelling and armed provocations on the border: on 17 May, border guards recorded seven cases of the invader using weapons on the section of the border with Ukraine within Sumy Oblast and in two cases in the Chernihiv region.