Russia launched more drone attacks on Ukrainian cities on Friday, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to a European forum to call for more military support.
The attacks targeted the capital, Kyiv, as well as the cities of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The attacks came as Zelenskyy was in Prague, Czech Republic, to attend the European Political Strategy Forum. In his speech, Zelenskyy called on European leaders to provide Ukraine with more weapons, including fighter jets and air defense systems.
“We need more weapons to protect our sky and our people,” Zelenskyy said. “We need more fighter jets, air defense systems, artillery, and ammunition.”
Zelenskyy also warned that Russia is preparing for a new offensive in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine.
“Russia is concentrating its forces in the Donbas,” Zelenskyy said. “They are preparing for a new offensive, and we must be prepared to stop it.”
The European Union has already provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in military and financial aid. However, Zelenskyy is asking for more, as he believes that Ukraine is fighting a war on behalf of all of Europe.
“We are fighting for our freedom, but we are also fighting for your freedom,” Zelenskyy said. “We are fighting for the freedom of all Europeans.”
The war in Ukraine has now entered its seventh month, and there is no end in sight. The Russian military has made gains in the east of the country, but the Ukrainian military has put up a fierce resistance.
The United States and its allies have imposed severe sanctions on Russia, but these sanctions have not yet forced Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.
It is unclear when the war will end, but it is clear that the war is devastatingly impacting Ukraine. Millions of people have been displaced from their homes, and thousands of people have been killed.