Zelensky renews long-range arms call after attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has once again called for increased supplies of long-range weapons and air defenses following a missile strike that resulted in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, including two children.

The attack, which targeted the town of Vilniansk near Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, left 31 others injured, according to Ukrainian officials. Reuters reported that at least 11 civilians lost their lives and 37 more were wounded in missile strikes across Ukraine on Saturday.

In a Telegram post, President Zelensky expressed the ongoing suffering of Ukrainian cities and communities from such Russian attacks. He emphasized the need for effective countermeasures, including the destruction of Russian missile launchers, deployment of long-range strike capabilities, and enhancement of modern air defense systems.

Images shared by Zelensky depicted significant damage in Vilniansk, including a large crater near a burning structure and bodies on the ground. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, confirmed that two missiles struck the town, causing damage to infrastructure, a shop, and residential buildings.

The Russian defense ministry has not issued a public statement regarding the attack. However, on its Telegram channel, it released footage claiming to show a missile strike on a railway allegedly used by Ukrainian forces near Ukrainka, situated less than six miles from Vilniansk.

Additionally, Kostin reported casualties from artillery strikes in three villages near the eastern Donetsk region’s frontline, where four people were killed and seven others injured.

While Western allies have provided Ukraine with various long-range weapons, such as Scalp missiles from France, Storm Shadow from the UK, and ATACMS from the US, as well as Patriot air defense systems, the supply from the US—Ukraine’s primary arms supplier—has faced delays in 2024 following congressional holdups on a bill for additional military aid.

The legislation was eventually passed in April, and air defence systems and long-range missiles were arriving on front lines the following month.

But Ukraine has blamed losses of life and Russian territorial gains in the interim on shortages of ammunition and air defence missiles the delay caused, while Mr Zelensky has continued to call for further support to win the war.

On Telegram, he thanked allies for their help, but said decisions to send further weaponry “must be accelerated” as “any delay in decisions in this war means the loss of human lives.”