Russia trying to exhaust Ukraine's air defenses: Pentagon official

Intense Russian missile attacks on Ukraine are aimed at exhausting the country’s air defense resources, a senior Pentagon official said on Saturday.

Locals look at the shelling hole after a recent rocket attack in the village of Solonka not far from the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv, Ukraine, 16 November 2022.

EPA/MYKOLA TYS

"They're really trying to overwhelm and exhaust Ukrainian air defense systems," Kahl told reporters during a trip to the Middle East, as quoted by Reuters.

"We know what the Russian theory of victory is, and we're committed to making sure that's not going to work by making sure that the Ukrainians get what they need to keep their air defenses viable", Kahl added.

Since October 8, when General Sergei Surovikin took over as commander-in-chief of the invading Russian military, Russian forces have significantly intensified their shelling of energy facilities in Ukraine. In recent weeks, key power grid elements have been attacked in Kiev as well as in most regions of the country.

The largest shelling took place on November 15. It was also then that a Ukrainian air defense system, in an attempt to bring down a Russian missile, likely struck Przewodów in Poland, killing two people.

(jh)

Source: PAP