Zelenskyy: Repelling Russian attack cost €80m, Russia now has more missiles

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that it cost Ukraine at least €80 million to repel Russia's large-scale combined attack on the night of 19-20 January. He said it is not that Ukraine has fewer air defence missiles, but Russia has more.

Source: Zelenskyy during an online press briefing

Quote: "For example, today's Russian attack cost us around €80 million – and that's only the cost of the missiles. Just imagine the price of those missiles. And every day we do all we can – and I personally do all I can – to ensure we receive the missiles we need and proper protection for our people."

Details: Zelenskyy said that Ukraine "does not have fewer air defence missiles; we have more air defence systems, but the Russians have more missiles". In particular, Russia has increased its use of ballistic missiles.

"There is far more ballistic weaponry being used by Russia. And unfortunately, they get components from partner countries, from the private sector. Nevertheless, their ability to produce these missiles must be reduced. That is not happening yet. So we need more missiles and more air defence," the president stressed.

Zelenskyy reiterated that only Patriot systems are capable of countering ballistic missiles.
Russia has also increased its use of Shahed attack drones, although Ukraine has boosted the number of interceptors and is actively deploying mobile fire groups.

"In other words, we are finding tools, and we will ultimately defeat the Shahed drones – we have to. There is no way to survive otherwise. But when it comes to ballistic missiles, for now the key [the supply of munitions for Patriot systems – ed.] remains solely in the hands of the US," Zelenskyy said.

Background:

• On the night of 19-20 January, Russian forces carried out a large-scale combined strike on Ukraine, launching 372 drones and missiles.
• The Russians attacked Ukraine with one Zircon hypersonic cruise missile, 18 Iskander-M ballistic missiles/S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles, 15 Kh-101 cruise missiles and 339 attack UAVs – Shahed, Gerbera, Italmass and other types.
• Ukraine's air defence downed 342 Russian aerial assets. Strikes by five missiles and 24 attack UAVs were recorded at 11 locations, and downed UAV debris fell at 12 locations.

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