Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call for additional long-range weapons and air defences after a missile attack in the town of Vilniansk, near Zaporizhzhia, resulted in seven deaths, including two children, and injured 31 others.
The attack, which occurred on Saturday, was part of a broader wave of missile strikes across Ukraine that left at least 11 civilians dead and 37 wounded, according to Reuters.
“Our cities and communities suffer daily from such Russian strikes,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. He emphasised the need for enhanced military capabilities to address the threat, stating that overcoming the attacks involves “destroying Russian missile launchers, striking with real long-range capability, and increasing the number of modern air defence systems.”
Zelensky also shared images from Vilniansk, depicting a large crater next to a smouldering building and several bodies on the ground. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin reported that two missiles hit the town, damaging infrastructure, a shop, and residential buildings.
The Russian defence ministry has yet to comment on the attack. However, it posted footage on its Telegram channel showing a missile strike on a railway near Ukrainka—less than six miles from Vilniansk—allegedly used by Ukrainian forces for arms and equipment.
Additionally, Kostin reported four fatalities and seven injuries from artillery strikes on three villages near the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region.
Despite receiving various long-range weapons, including Scalp missiles from France, Storm Shadow from the UK, and ATACMS from the US, as well as US-made Patriot air defence systems, Ukraine’s weapon supply has faced interruptions.
A delay in passing a US military aid bill earlier in 2024 impacted the availability of essential equipment. The legislation, approved in April, led to the arrival of air defence systems and long-range missiles the following month.
Zelensky expressed gratitude for the support from Western allies but stressed the need for expedited decisions on further military aid, stating, “Any delay in decisions in this war means the loss of human lives.”
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