Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s biggest cities will increasingly force Kyiv to choose between deploying its scarce air defence systems to protect civilians or to use them to press ahead with the counteroffensives that have reclaimed huge swaths of territory.
Western and Ukrainian officials, as well as military analysts, have cited a lack of air defences as one of Kyiv’s main weaknesses as it seeks to protect itself from Russian attacks, such as the deadly missile and drone strikes that hit several of its largest cities early on Monday.
Russia fired more than 80 cruise missiles and 24 drones into Ukraine during morning rush hour, which President Vladimir Putin said was retaliation for the explosion over the weekend that collapsed part of the Kerch bridge connecting Russia and the occupied Crimean peninsula.