Ukraine is dealing with a summer season of escalating Russian airstrikes on its cities. The Ukrainian President has referred to as on the U.S. to offer extra air protection methods.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Ukraine is dealing with a summer season of accelerating Russian airstrikes on its cities as Russian advances on the frontlines. Moscow is rebuffing President Trump’s calls to finish the conflict. Ukraine is attempting to decelerate the assaults by putting at Russia’s conflict machine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy spoke to President Trump by cellphone on Friday and says his nation wants air protection munitions to guard itself. The Pentagon is holding up a few of these provides. NPR’s Joanna Kakissis is in Kyiv. Joanna, thanks for being with us.
JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Thanks for having me on the present, Scott.
SIMON: And big airstrikes once more on Friday. The Ukrainian Air Power says the biggest because the starting of the full-scale invasion. How precisely do Ukrainians defend themselves, or attempt to?
KAKISSIS: So Ukrainian cities use air protection methods. They seem to be a mixture of Western and Soviet-era tools and weapons to shoot down Russian missiles and drones. And through Friday’s airstrikes, Russia launched 539 assault drones and 11 missiles. Most have been centered right here on Kyiv.
(SOUNDBITE OF DRONES BUZZING)
KAKISSIS: And huge drones geared up with explosives really flew over our neighborhood. They – to me, they sound like mopeds or like a horde of offended mosquitoes. And right here Ukraine’s air protection is attempting to shoot them down.
(SOUNDBITE OF AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS FIRING)
KAKISSIS: So that you’re listening to the work of cell air protection models. These are principally guys on vehicles firing mounted machine weapons on the drones. Later, I heard the thud of air protection batteries, that are used to launch antiaircraft missiles. Essentially the most subtle antiaircraft system utilized by Ukraine is the Patriot, which is U.S.-designed. Now, Patriots can detect and shoot down even hypersonic missiles.
SIMON: And, Joanna, might Ukraine’s air defenses shoot down all of the drones or missiles?
KAKISSIS: Effectively, on Friday, they didn’t, they usually typically can not. About 60 drones on Friday acquired by means of they usually hit condominium buildings, companies, railway infrastructure, they induced fireplace and a number of injury. And within the morning, there was this pungent burning odor all over the place. And contemplating the size of this assault, the variety of casualties was really smaller than ordinary. One individual was killed and greater than 20 injured. However Ukrainians that we spoke to say surviving airstrikes is sort of a lottery. Every one might imply loss of life.
SIMON: And Joanna, if these Russian airstrikes proceed and improve as predicted, does Ukraine have sufficient stockpiles to maintain up its air protection?
KAKISSIS: Effectively, that is an enormous concern, particularly with the antiaircraft methods. Ukraine wants missiles for his or her air protection batteries, which the U.S. provides. These are included in a U.S. cargo of munitions that was already en path to Ukraine till the Pentagon unexpectedly halted it final week. Now, our colleague, Pentagon correspondent Tom Bowman, was informed that the cargo was stopped in Poland. The Pentagon says its stockpile of air protection missiles is operating low. Ukrainian safety analyst Hanna Shelest informed me she is baffled by this public assertion.
HANNA SHELEST: It would imply fairly a adverse for the U.S. fame on the earth as a result of what it says in regards to the U.S. functionality. In order that they’re sending the sign how weak they’re.
KAKISSIS: Now, Scott, Ukraine has been attempting to hit Russia’s conflict machine to at the very least decelerate Russian assaults. At the moment, Ukraine’s Air Power, it had bombed a Russian airfield the place fighter jets which are utilized in airstrikes are saved.
SIMON: And President Zelenskyy did converse by cellphone with President Trump and introduced up their air protection wants. Do we all know in regards to the end result?
KAKISSIS: Effectively, Zelenskyy stated in a press release after the decision that the 2 leaders would, quote, “work collectively” to guard Ukraine’s skies and perhaps group up for joint protection manufacturing, however there are not any agency commitments, at the very least but. And Ukrainians want dependable provides proper now, particularly because the Kremlin will not be heeding President Trump’s name to finish the conflict anytime quickly. Friday’s large airstrikes, for instance, got here after Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin. So Russian troops are pushing on the frontline, putting Ukrainian cities rather more typically, and Ukraine insists it’s going to wrestle to defend itself by itself.
SIMON: Joanna Kakissis, thanks a lot.
KAKISSIS: You are welcome.
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