Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his country needed over 100 aircraft to counter Russian air power and that Ukraine only had a quarter of the air defences it needs.
Ukraine has faced a surge of devastating attacks as the war stretches into its third year, leading Kyiv to double down on pleas to strengthen its depleted air defences.
“Today we have about 25% of what we need to defend Ukraine. I’m talking about air defence,” Mr Zelensky said.
Russia currently holds an advantage in the air, which limits Ukraine’s ability to protect cities and hold the front line.
To combat sustained aerial and ground assaults, Ukrainian officials have called for more support.
“So that Russia does not have air superiority, our fleet should have 120 to 130 modern aircraft … to defend the sky against 300 (Russian) aircraft,” Mr Zelensky said in an interview with AFP.
He also said the fighter jets were needed “to have parity” with Russia.
His comments came just weeks after the US Congress finally approved a $61 billion financial aid package for Ukraine following months of political wrangling.
Mr Zelensky called for some of the assistance to be delivered.
“Can we have three (billion) to get two (Patriot) systems in Kharkiv region, and no bombs will fall on the heads of the military,” he said.
Mr Zelensky also warned that Russia’s offensive in the Kharkiv region this month may only be a “first wave” and Russian troops could aim for the city of Kharkiv.
He said the situation in the region, where Russia has seized several border villages, was “controlled” but “not stabilised” after Ukraine sent reinforcements.
The president also said Russian troops had penetrated between five to 10 kilometres along the northeastern border before being stopped by Ukrainian troops.
Russia’s offensive “could consist in several waves. There was the first wave” in the Kharkiv region, he said.
“I won’t say it’s a great success” for Russia, he said.
However, Mr Zelensky added: “We have to be sober and understand that they are going deeper into our territory. Not vice versa. And that’s still their advantage.”
Nearly 10,000 evacuated in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region: governor
Nearly 10,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region since a ground attack launched by Russian forces on 10 May, the regional governor said.
They were fleeing Russian soldiers who managed to advance between five to 10km along the northeastern border before being stopped by Ukrainian forces.
Governor Oleg Synegubov said Ukraine’s armed forces had repelled two attempts to break through defences overnight.
The situation was “under control” with “defenders in certain areas conducting assault… and combing operations.”
Moscow has been attacking several settlements including Vovchansk, just 5km from the border.
A day earlier, Mr Synegubov said Russian forces have started to destroy Vovchansk and all but 200 of its residents have fled due to fighting.
Russian forces have taken 278sq/km between 9 and 15 May, their biggest gains since the end of 2022, AFP calculated using data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
