In response to a series of heavy Russian airstrikes across Ukraine, NATO and Ukrainian officials will meet on Wednesday, August 28, at the request of Kyiv. The meeting will take place at the ambassadorial level, with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov expected to brief NATO allies via video link.
The recent Russian aerial assault on Ukraine saw a wave of drone and missile attacks on Monday and Tuesday, targeting multiple regions across the country. These attacks left at least 11 people dead and further strained Ukraine’s already fragile energy grid. Ukraine’s electricity grid operator imposed emergency blackouts on Tuesday to alleviate pressure on the system. Kyiv reported that 15 regions were hit by a total of 236 missiles and drones, making it one of the largest aerial assaults in recent weeks. Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down 201 of the incoming threats.
The attacks drew strong condemnation from the United States and Ukraine’s allies in Europe. Moscow claimed the strikes were aimed at infrastructure linked to the Ukrainian military. Meanwhile, NATO member Poland reported a violation of its airspace, likely by a drone, during the barrage.
The NATO meeting will focus on Ukraine’s urgent need for enhanced air defenses. A diplomatic source revealed that Ukraine’s critical need for air defense systems will be a central topic of discussion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged European air forces to assist Kyiv in countering Russian drones and missiles. He emphasized that joint efforts with Ukraine’s F-16s and air defense systems could significantly improve the protection of Ukrainian lives. Zelenskyy recently announced that Ukraine had deployed Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets to repel the Russian strikes and successfully tested a domestically produced ballistic missile.
