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"Russia has long been preparing a massive strike, combining ballistic missiles, missiles, and drones," — Zelenskyy

UA NEWS 20 August 2026 10:58
"Russia has long been preparing a massive strike, combining ballistic missiles, missiles, and drones," — Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia had been preparing for a massive attack for a long time, combining various types of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and strike drones to inflict maximum damage on civilian infrastructure.

According to the head of state, Moscow continues to invest significant resources in ballistic weapons and the escalation of the war, while the international response to such strikes, in his view, remains insufficient.

“Unfortunately, while Moscow is investing in ballistic weapons and escalation, the world does not always respond appropriately to such strikes. And as long as Ukraine lacks sufficient anti-ballistic capabilities, Russia will not seriously consider peace,” Zelenskyy stated.

The president emphasized that Ukraine is working to strengthen its own missile defense, particularly as part of the FREYJA anti-ballistic missile program. According to him, Ukraine is also working to develop its own ballistic and anti-ballistic technologies.

At the same time, Zelenskyy stressed that interceptor missiles for the Patriot systems remain indispensable for now.

We are doing everything we can to ensure our defense, and work on the FREYJA program continues every day. But the interceptors for the Patriot systems cannot be replaced yet, and we need them every day. Every additional missile saves the lives of our people. I thank everyone who understands this, who seeks out and finds opportunities to help,” the president added.

Earlier, Zelenskyy also stated that delays in the delivery of missile defense systems directly affect the number of casualties and the scale of destruction.

At the same time, Ukraine is counting on the results of its own ballistic and anti-ballistic weapons programs in 2026–2027.

The head of state announced this on Telegram.

Kyiv and Brovary were the main targets of Russia’s attack.

Russia’s war against Ukraine is taking on the characteristics of a total war — The Kyiv Independent.

Earlier, Ukraine certified the long-range “Dovbush T40” unmanned aerial vehicle.

As a reminder, the Russian oil refinery “Orsknefteorgsintez” halted oil processing following an attack by Ukrainian drones on August 11. 

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