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Euronews
Sertac Aktan

Zelenskyy seeks more air defence amid harsh winter and Russian attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Western allies to provide more air defence support on Sunday, as Russian strikes have left hundreds of buildings in Kyiv without heating and electricity in freezing temperatures.

Russia has hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure throughout the nearly four-year all-out war, but Kyiv says this winter has been the toughest.

"This week alone, the Russians have launched more than 1,700 attack drones, over 1,380 guided aerial bombs, and 69 missiles of various types," Zelenskyy said as he arrived in Vilnius to take part in a ceremony to commemorate the 1863 uprising in Poland and Lithuania against tsarist Russia.

"That is why missiles for air defence systems are needed every day, and we continue working with the United States and Europe to ensure stronger protection of our skies," he added.

People take shelter in a subway station during Russia's night missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026. (People take shelter in a subway station during Russia's night missile and drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, 24 Jan, 2026.)

Kyiv is particularly hit hard, with half a million people forced to evacuate.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said "there are currently 1,676 high-rise apartment buildings in Kyiv without heating following the enemy's attack on Kyiv city on 24 January."

Sub-zero temperatures and repeated air strikes have hindered efforts by repair crews to restore heating and electricity.

On Friday and Saturday, officials from the US, Russia and Ukraine participated in talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at ending the war.

Though the negotiations provided no breakthrough, Zelenskyy said they were nevertheless "constructive," with both sides agreeing to meet again in Abu Dhabi as early as next week.

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