Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the international community not to “turn a blind eye” to Russia’s escalating long-range attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, warning that the absence of a global response is allowing for increasingly frequent and brutal strikes.
Zelenskyy said that over the past week, Russia has fired more than 3,300 munitions into Ukraine, even as diplomatic efforts to end the war continue.
“They attack energy facilities, logistics infrastructure and residential buildings almost every day. And this is happening even as diplomatic efforts for peace continue,” Zelenskyy said on social media on Sunday.
Heavy use of drones, missiles and guided bombs
According to Zelensky, over the past week, Russia has fired more than 2,000 attack drones, 1,200 guided aerial bombs and 116 missiles at Ukrainian targets.
The Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russia launched 101 drones overnight from Saturday to Sunday. Of these, 69 were shot down or electronically suppressed. The remaining 32 drones hit 13 locations across the country.
Power Grid under attack
Russia continues its winter campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Saturday night’s drone strike followed a massive missile and drone attack late Friday that caused significant power outages in most regions of Ukraine.
Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said the latest attacks damaged:
Industrial plant in Poltava
Residential house in Kramatorsk
Industrial complex in Odessa
Several residential buildings in Kherson
Call for air defense and continued pressure on Moscow
Zelenskyy warned that a lack of international response risks emboldening Moscow.
“When there is no global response, strikes are more frequent and more brutal,” he said early Sunday morning. “This can be stopped with real support for Ukraine and our defense.”
He reiterated that Ukraine urgently needs additional military assistance.
“We need missiles for air defense systems and weapons for our warriors who stop this aggression every day,” Zelenskyy said. “And for diplomacy to work, constant pressure on Russia is necessary.”
He added that Ukraine had imposed new sanctions on foreign companies accused of supplying “critical components” used in Russian drones and missiles.
“The price of this war for them must be so high that the war becomes unsustainable for the Russian Federation,” Zelenskyy said.
Energy sector declared a “legitimate target”
Later on Sunday, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine considers Russia’s energy sector a legitimate military target, saying that revenues from oil and energy exports directly finance the war.
“We don’t have to choose whether to hit a military target or energy,” Zelenskyy said in a speech to students of Kyiv National Aviation University. “He sells oil, takes the money, invests it in weapons. And with those weapons, he kills Ukrainians.”
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine faces two strategic options:
“Either we make weapons and attack their weapons. Or we strike at the source where their money is generated and multiplied. And that source is their energy sector.”
Ukraine continues long-range attacks
Ukraine also carried out long-range strikes of its own against Russian targets overnight. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its forces shot down 22 Ukrainian drones late Saturday morning.
The exchange underscores the war’s growing air dimension as both sides expand long-range campaigns against infrastructure and military assets.