Ukraine makes plea to NATO for more air defence systems to fight Russian air strikes
Ukraine is asking the NATO military alliance to supply 20 more air defence systems to better protect against Russian air strikes, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says.
Ukraine’s energy system needs to be better protected this winter, Sybiha said at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels.
Ukraine is asking for the the urgent supply of 20 more air defence systems, like Hawk, NASAMS and Iris-Ts, to “avoid blackout,” Sybiha said.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia was once again “weaponising” winter by attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and trying to freeze people out of their homes.
“We’re not going to let that happen,” Blinken said.
In recent months, Russian forces have used air strikes to disable or damage many Ukrainian power stations and substations.
Ukraine’s parliament on Tuesday approved state gas and oil company Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov as deputy prime minister to lead a newly-created ministry for national unity.
The appointment comes as Ukraine’s full-scale war with Russia approached its third anniversary.
Chernyshov, 47, has led Naftogaz through the war since 2022 and served as a minister responsible for regional development in 2020-2022.
There were no other nominees.
According to several MPs, 237 members of parliament supported Chernyshov’s candidacy.
An industry source told Reuters that Naftogaz management board member Vasyl Volodin would temporarily chair the company, which is involved in the gas transit process.
Its infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted by Russian long-range strikes in the course of the full-scale invasion.
According to legislation, for the new CEO to be appointed a competition should be held before the supervisory board’s vote.
The direct functions of the new ministry of national unity that Chernyshov is set to lead and shape are yet to be determined.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced plans for its establishment earlier in the year, saying that its tasks should include improving communication with the millions of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, who fled abroad for safety.
