In response to the massive Russian attack on energy infrastructure on the morning of December 13, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha reiterated on Twitter (X) the need for Ukraine to have at least 20 additional medium-range air defense systems.
Massive Russian missile attack on Ukraine this morning, primarily targeting the energy system. Russia aims to deprive us of energy. Instead, we must deprive it of the means of terror. I reiterate my call for the urgent delivery of 20 NASAMS, HAWK, or IRIS-T air defense systems.
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) December 13, 2024
Sybiha recently stated at a NATO ministerial meeting that Ukraine urgently requires at least 20 air defense systems to continue effectively fighting Russia’s barbarous missile attacks.
EU Ambassador in a shelter in Kyiv
A massive combined Russian attack forced the new European Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius, who is on a visit to Kyiv, to spend the morning of Friday, December 13, in a shelter.
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Katarina Mathernova posted the relevant photos on Twitter and captioned them, “Welcome new defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius in the shelter.”.
Friday 13th – another Russian massive attack on 🇺🇦 critical infrastructure as of early morning. 93 ballistic & cruise missiles and over 200 attack drones were launched targeting energy grid & transport networks.
— Katarina Mathernova 🇪🇺 (@kmathernova) December 13, 2024
Welcoming new 🇪🇺 Commissioner for Defense @KubiliusA in a shelter. pic.twitter.com/32vsT319J0
Russia poured 287 missiles and drones on Ukraine
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 287 attacks on Ukraine with drones and missiles, and Ukrainian air defense destroyed 161 missiles and 105 drones.
List of missiles and drones that Russians fired at Ukraine on December 13:
- 4 X-47M2 “Kinzhal” aerial ballistic missiles from MiG-31K fighters, launch area: Tambov region in Russia;
- 2 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, launch area: Bryansk region in Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea;
- 1 KN-23 ballistic missile, launch area: Bryansk region, Russia;
- 55 X-101, X-55SM cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers, launch area: Volgograd region, Russia;
- 24 Kalibr cruise missiles, launch area: Black Sea;
- 7 “Iskander-K” cruise missiles, launch area: Voronezh, Rostov region, Russia;
- 1 X-59/X-69 guided missile, launch area: airspace over the occupied Luhansk region;
- 193 Shahed and other drones from Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Orel, Bryansk, Millerovo districts of Russia.
“The Russian air attack was repelled by anti-aircraft missile troops, aviation, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine. In particular, F-16s were effectively used,” the Ukrainian Air Force wrote.
Foreign ministers of 6 European nations vow to continue supporting Ukraine
The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, and France, as well as the High Representative of the European Union, committed to continue to support Ukraine in a joint statement issued after meeting with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha in Berlin on Thursday, December 12.
“We will continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership. We will continue to support Ukraine on its path towards accession to the European Union,” the European ministers emphasized.
“There can be no negotiations about peace in Ukraine without Ukrainians and without Europeans by their side. We are committed to providing Ukraine with ironclad security guarantees, including reliable long-term provision of military and financial support.” the joint declaration states.
Canada recently confirmed that the NASAMS system it ordered from the United States for Ukraine has arrived, additionally German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced during his visit to Kyiv that the sixth IRIS-T system, Patriot launchers, and Gepard anti-aircraft tanks would be delivered in December.
Earlier we also reported that Ukrainian president during a meeting with the chairman of the European Parliament’s Group of Socialists and Democrats, Iratxe Perez Garcia, in Kyiv said that Ukraine needs 10-12 Patriot air defense systems to fully protect its skies from Russian missile attacks. Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that air defense systems supply will render Putin’s war futile, and urges to use frozen Russian assets.
Russia’s tactics: to overload Ukraine’s air defense
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have received many advanced medium- and long-range air defense systems from Western allies. Thanks to these supplies, Ukraine’s air defenses manage to shoot down most of the Russian drones and missiles. However, Russian air attacks continue to plague Ukraine nearly three years into Russia’s all-out war.
Russian troops employ the tactics of massive airstrikes, combining their attacks with dozens of war drones and missiles of various types. In addition, Putin’s troops attack many regions of the country simultaneously. Thus, the Russians are overloading Ukraine’s air defense system.
Due to the overwhelming air defense, some missiles and drones are able to reach their targets, resulting in the destruction of infrastructure and residential buildings in Ukrainian cities. We see devastating pictures of the aftermath of these strikes in residential areas every week. Thus, air defense strengthening is needed to repel massive attacks and close the sky over Ukraine to Russian missiles.
According to Ukrainian authorities, the main target of the complex, combined attack by all numerous cruise, ballistic, and aerial ballistic missiles and attack drones of the Russian Federation, has been Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Russia’s goal is to leave people without electricity and heating in winter time.
