In his evening address to the nation, Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced a worrying forecast: the threat of a large-scale strike remains relevant for the current 24-hour period. The head of state urged citizens not to relax and to respond immediately to air raid sirens, emphasizing that any doubts about the enemy's intentions are a luxury that cannot be afforded right now.
Diplomacy Will Not Work
The President was extremely candid in his assessment of the international situation. Despite the fact that Ukraine's Western partners are conducting active negotiations with Moscow in an attempt to prevent a catastrophe, Zelenskyy harbors no illusions. According to him, there is no faith that the Russian leadership will "come to its senses" and abandon plans for a mass attack. The only way to survive is to strictly adhere to safety rules.
Situation at the Air Defense Front
It is important to understand that the Ukrainian defense system is operating at the limit of its capabilities. Air defense forces, mobile fire groups, and combat aviation are in a state of full combat readiness, although the effectiveness of their work directly depends on the volume of Western weapon supplies.
Statistics show that Ukrainian defenders are demonstrating outstanding results in intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles. The percentage of shot-down "Shahed" kamikaze drones remains stable at 90–93%. However, the situation with cruise and ballistic missiles is more complex. Kyiv continues to negotiate with partners regarding new contributions to the PURL program and the search for alternative channels for supplying interception means.
Context of the Threat
The last massive combined strike on the country occurred on May 24, when Kyiv became the main target. Since then, Moscow has repeatedly stated its intention to regularly attack the Ukrainian capital. Intelligence data voiced by the President and the Ministry of Defense indicate that the enemy is preparing a new wave of attacks at the end of May, which is particularly critical on the eve of Kyiv Day.