West seeks air defence solutions for Ukraine after Russian missile onslaught

Dozens of western states have discussed stepping up provision of air defence systems and other weapons to Kyiv to counter Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities that have killed dozens of civilians in recent days and damaged its power grid ahead of what could be a cold and dark winter.

Ukrainian defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov held talks with counterparts from Nato members and other allies in Brussels on Wednesday, as the country’s premier, Denys Shmyhal, urged the nation’s 40 million people to use less electricity and prepare for a winter of probable power cuts by stocking up on warm clothes, candles, flashlights and batteries.

“I welcome that Nato allies are providing air defence systems. That is extremely important and I welcome the recent … delivery of German air defence systems to Ukraine,” said Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.

“The horrific indiscriminate attacks against Ukrainian cities, civilians killed, civilian critical infrastructure destroyed and not least the attacks on the energy system…is serious as we approach winter. So all of this demonstrates the urgent need for more air defence for Ukraine.”

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Berlin announced this week that it was delivering an Iris-T medium-range air defence system to Ukraine ahead of schedule, as Moscow’s military hit Ukrainian cities with cruise missiles and explosive-laden “kamikaze” drones after blaming Kyiv’s security services for an explosion which damaged the only bridge linking Russia with occupied Crimea.

Washington said it would speed up delivery of Nasams air defence systems to Kyiv, and US defence secretary Lloyd Austin chaired a meeting in Brussels of counterparts from the 50 members of the so-called Ukraine Defence Contact Group.

“The systems will be provided as fast as we can physically get them there… We’re going to provide systems that we have available, that countries like Germany has available. We’re also going to try to provide additional munitions to the existing systems that the Ukrainian forces are using,” Mr Austin said after the talks.

US general Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Ukraine’s allies needed to “chip in and help them rebuild and sustain an integrated air and missile defence system… A lot of the countries that were here today have a wide range of systems and the task will be to bring those together [and] get them deployed.”

In Kyiv, Mr Shmyhal thanked Ukrainians for making a 10 per cent reduction in evening electricity use since Russia’s intense missile attacks on the power grid on Monday and Tuesday, but said that to prevent blackouts a 25 per cent reduction was needed.

“We were prepared for Russia trying to destroy important infrastructure facilities and worked out various response scenarios. The necessary backup equipment was bought… At the same time, we must be prepared for temporary power outages. This is wartime reality,” he said.

“Let’s not sugarcoat reality: this winter will be hard. Therefore, once again I urge everyone to carefully prepare for the winter. Ideally each family will have a stock of the necessary basic things: warm clothes, candles, flashlights, batteries. It is important to prepare this, in case light or heat is lost as a result of massive rocket strikes.”

Moscow has threatened to unleash more missile strikes on city centres and civilian infrastructure if there is any repeat of what it calls the Ukrainian “terrorist attack” on the Crimea bridge, a €3.9 billion symbol of the Kremlin’s occupation of the region in 2014.

Moscow said on Wednesday that eight people had been arrested for alleged involvement in the explosion – including five Russians – and that it was planned by Ukraine’s security service. Kyiv officials welcomed the blast but have not claimed responsibility.