Zelensky: War Control Shifts Away from Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the Ukrainian military has significantly evolved, now receiving backing from over 500 defense firms. He mentioned that Russia is reportedly losing around 30,000 soldiers each month, suggesting that the dynamics of the war are no longer under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s control.
In related developments, early Thursday, Poland, which is the NATO member most affected by the Ukraine-Russia conflict, deployed fighter jets and heightened its air defense alert after Russia launched over 70 missiles and approximately 280 drones across Ukraine, resulting in at least eight fatalities and numerous injuries from Kiev to Lviv.
Zelensky, who had just returned from a trip to the U.S., pointed out that the missile onslaught highlighted a significant gap in the supplies of interceptors from the West, particularly for ballistic missiles. “The safety of our citizens hinges on the commitment of our allies to provide Ukraine with air defense missiles,” he stated.
Later that day, the European Union allocated $4 billion to Ukraine for drones, missiles, air defense aircraft, and fighter jets, as confirmed by the European Commission. This funding is part of a larger package exceeding $100 billion approved earlier this year.
Earlier in the morning, Polish military forces detected an unidentified object traveling westward in their airspace. F-16s were dispatched to intercept it, but it vanished from radar shortly after. Investigators later discovered a substantial crater and debris in Tarnawa Colonia, roughly two miles from the nearest building.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk indicated that preliminary evidence hinted the object might have been a Russian Kh-101 missile, though verification processes are ongoing. He noted that the missile did not appear to target Polish territory and expressed that the U.S. was interested in participating in the investigation. Tusk remarked that the conflict’s outcome could unfold within the next 100 days.
Six individuals, including two young girls aged 5 and 12, were reported dead after a Russian ballistic missile struck a family home near Kryvy Rif. Additional casualties were confirmed in Kiev and the Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions.
In Lviv, emergency responders were actively searching damaged buildings for survivors amid the debris. A resident described their shock witnessing rescue efforts and mentioned seeing workers crawling under the wreckage.
Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 55 missiles and 265 drones, but only one of the nine ballistic missiles was brought down, with several others striking various targets. The Patriot system remains Ukraine’s only reliable defense against fast-moving ballistic missiles, although Zelensky has often noted the critical delays and insufficiencies in supply.
Zelensky discussed potential manufacturing of Patriot interceptors in Ukraine during a meeting with President Trump. However, he also stressed that immediate solutions were required to address the ongoing missile shortages. European nations, too, have offered to finance the procurement of more defense missiles from the U.S.
This meeting in Washington coincided with Senate deliberations on a significant sanctions package against Russia, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, who was a staunch advocate of Ukraine. Following procedural votes, the Senate approved the bill, which seeks to impose sanctions on various Russian entities and authorize heavy tariffs on products from key buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Overall, Zelensky emphasized that the proposed legislation sends a strong message to Russia and morale-boosting support to the Ukrainian populace. He attended Graham’s funeral and later observed the Senate proceedings from the audience.
