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Ukraine Overhauls Air Defenses as Russia Ramps Up Mass Drone Strikes

A new anti-drone chief is tasked with building a nationwide shield as officials warn the energy system is near collapse.

Overview

  • President Volodymyr Zelensky named drone-unit commander Pawlo Jelisarow vice commander of the air force to lead a reorganization focused on mobile air-defense and near-range anti-drone units.
  • Army chief Oleksandr Syrskyj says Russia is boosting weapons output and aims to enable up to 1,000 drone strikes per day, with Ukraine reporting more than 200 drones used in a recent attack and over 1,300 in a week.
  • Germany’s Foreign Office cautioned that Ukraine’s energy network is close to failure and announced €60 million in additional humanitarian aid as strikes continue to hit power and gas facilities, including in the Odesa region.
  • Despite ongoing talks with the United States, which are set to continue in Davos, Ukraine’s military plans new offensive operations intended to raise Russia’s costs in personnel and materiel.
  • Zelensky said Ukraine’s security service captured a Russian suspected of killing nine Ukrainian prisoners of war, and regional officials reported civilian casualties including a woman killed in Kharkiv.