Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed an agreement with allies for a European-backed anti-ballistic missile shield as an alternative to the US Patriot system, but stressed that Kyiv still needs American interceptors for the coming winter. The Freyja defence project, originated in Ukraine, will be developed over the next 12 months.
Winter air defence package
“One of the main ways to strengthen our collective position should be a winter package of air defence missiles,” Zelenskyy posted. “We have calculated that this package should include 100 Patriot missiles per month, 300 missiles for the winter.” Donald Trump has promised Ukraine a licence to build Patriot missiles, but production is likely some time away due to the interceptors’ extreme complexity and slow output of critical parts by US subcontractors.
European missile shield
Ukraine and nine other countries, including the UK, Germany and France, will build the shared missile protection programme for Europe using Kyiv’s experience in fighting Russia’s full-scale invasion for more than four years. Leaders met Zelenskyy on Monday in Paris. The UK signed up to participate in the EU’s €90bn (£77bn) support loan for Ukraine, enabling UK firms to provide more weapons paid for by the funds.
French fighter jets and defence systems
Emmanuel Macron announced a roadmap for Kyiv to get 16 Rafale fighter jets, the first due to “take to the skies” by 2028-2029. Kyiv will also acquire an initial batch of new-generation SAMP/T missile defence units, which will complement systems due for delivery with their missiles in the coming weeks. Macron also said the multinational force for Ukraine, to be deployed in the event of a ceasefire, would hold exercises in neighbouring countries in the coming months.
Overnight attacks on Kyiv and other cities
Russian forces attacked Kyiv with missiles and drones early on Tuesday, triggering fires in widely separated districts. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the capital’s military administration, said two storage areas were hit and set on fire in the Holosiivskyi district. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said cars burned in an eastern suburb after drone strikes. In Zaporizhzhia, Russian drones struck residential areas, injuring 11 people, emergency services said. A drone attack outside Kharkiv injured six people, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov.
Casualties in Donetsk
The Russian-installed head of the part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region under Moscow’s control said on Monday that Ukrainian drone attacks had killed eight people, including a family of four. Reuters said it could not verify the report independently. Ukraine denies targeting civilians.
EU and UK sanctions over cyber-attacks
The EU and Britain targeted Russia on Monday with coordinated sanctions over cyber-attacks in Europe, accusing Moscow’s FSB intelligence agency of involvement. Brussels imposed sanctions on nine people and four entities, while London added 24 names to its blacklist. Among those subjected to asset freezes and visa bans were officers of Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency and alleged cybercriminals working with the Russian state. The EU and Britain said a recent attempted cyber-attack targeting critical infrastructure in Poland, including the power grid, was part of a campaign by the FSB’s Centre 16 spying hub. The French foreign ministry added that among the sanctioned targets was “a group that claimed destabilising actions against the Paris 2024 Olympics”. The EU said that France, Germany, Poland, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Finland have been targeted in a campaign stretching back years.
