Zelensky says missile components from West, Asia fortify Russia

The supply of missile components from countries in the West and Asia enhanced the firepower of the Russian armed forces, President Volodymyr Zelensky grumbled on Monday.

The head of state hinted that the Foreign Ministry would meet with friendly nations’ ambassadors over the issue, as Kyiv moves to ramp up international support for Ukraine’s resilience in the war.

According to Zelensky, the Russian threat “will become drastically smaller” if certain countries can stop the provision of components used for producing missiles and drones.

He said most of the Russian drones used to damage Ukraine’s energy sector were made with Western parts, alongside the machinery from South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan.

“Many critical components are still being supplied to Russia from Europe and the U.S.,” Zelensky protested. “Hundreds of thousands, purely commercial supplies.”

“It is strange to hear anyone claim they don’t know how to stop the flow of critical components. The world has the power to stop terror,” he emphasized.

The president denounced Moscow for “behaving despicably” and refusing to make peace while continuing to “terrorize” Ukraine and threatening other territories across the region.

The comment was in reaction to Russia’s massive attack on Sunday, which killed more than five people, wounded others, and caused a major power outage.

Zelensky said Russia launched 50 missiles and 500 drones that targeted regions of Chernihiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.

Ukraine’s Presidential Commissioner for Sanctions Policy, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, has called for a “systemic and coordinated G7-level decision” to ensure Russian sanctions are effective and block the loopholes.

In September, European defense ministers agreed to develop a drone wall along their borders with Russia and Ukraine to quickly detect and intercept drones that flout the continent’s airspace.