Russian attacks on Ukrainian power plants and dams will speed up Western supply of air defence and missile defence systems to Ukraine – Ukraine’s Office of the President
OLENA ROSHCHINA — FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2022, 14:47
Mykhailo Podoliak, adviser to the Head of the President's Office, believes that an effective counteroffensive by Ukrainian defenders and Russian attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure can push Western partners to deliver air defence and missile defence systems to Kyiv.
Source: Mykhailo Podoliak, in an interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency
Quote from Podoliak: "The fantasies of the Russian Ministry of Defence notwithstanding, our air defence systems are effective in shooting down Russian missiles. This is the key point. Although it is important to understand something else, too: any air defence system can be DDoSed by a large number of missiles at the same time. On the day of the attack on the Kharkiv TPP [thermal power plant], our Air Force shot down nine missiles out of 11.
Details: According to Podoliak, Ukrain’s partners are still not ready to "directly and categorically" close the sky and introduce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, as they still fear a direct clash with the Russian Federation.
In his view, however, all that is needed is "a little more effective counteroffensive - and the situation will finally change."
Quote from Podoliak: "What our partners can help us with right now is air defence and missile defence systems. In any version. NASAMS and IRIS [systems] have already been agreed upon. But we need more, faster and since yesterday.
I believe that Russia's demonstrative strikes on thermal power plants and hydrotechnical facilities will dramatically accelerate the process of transferring such systems to us."
Details: When responding to a question about a possible NATO "humanitarian mission" to Ukraine, Podoliak noted that an indirect humanitarian protection operation is already ongoing.
He pointed out that "we are receiving equipment, capabilities, data, and all the tools for the effective destruction of the occupying army". Slower than we would like, but nevertheless.
The adviser to the head of the Office of the President emphasised that Ukraine is not asking anyone to fight for it, but it needs "the right volume of specific weapons and ammunition in the most timely delivery."
Background: After an unexpected counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces hastily retreated and proceeded to disable the civilian infrastructure of Ukraine. First, they hit a thermal power plant near Kharkiv, then they launched three strikes on the dam in Kryvyi Rih.
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