President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that the restoration of infrastructure following Russian strikes in the Sumy and Kyiv regions is proceeding too slowly. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the head of state's address following a conference call on the situation in the regions.
Conference call and regional reports
According to the publication, participants at the meeting reported on the consequences of the strikes in the Sumy region and the progress of repair work in Shostka and Konotop. Reports were also presented separately from the Kyiv region—Bila Tserkva, Brovary, and other cities affected by the attacks. These areas, according to Zelenskyy, became the focus of the discussion on restoration timelines.
Criticism of pace and reporting quality
The head of state noted that in a number of communities, the pace of restoration work remains "too slow," and that inaccurate information regarding the actual state of affairs had been received from certain cities. "The pace of recovery efforts is too slow, and there was, unfortunately, inaccurate reporting from the ground in several cities," Zelenskyy emphasized. Thus, the problem, in his estimation, is not just technical but also organizational in nature.
New tools for cooperation
According to the president, Kyiv has already determined how to rectify the situation. The Ministry of Energy, together with the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the Ministry for Communities Development, must prepare additional tools for interaction with cities and communities to ensure that restoration proceeds faster. The emphasis on the digital department indicates an intention to establish more transparent and efficient data exchange between the center and local authorities.
Context: energy strikes and EU support
Previously, Zelenskyy stated that by striking bridges and power grids, Russia is attempting to divide Ukraine along the Dnieper and complicate life for residents in frontline regions. In the same vein, he reported that Ukraine would receive additional aid from the European Union—specifically regarding logistics, energy, and winter preparations. These statements fit into the broader context of systematic attacks on energy infrastructure, which the president has repeatedly mentioned in 2026.
Military context: Taurus and IRIS-T
Separately, the head of state explained why Ukraine needs Taurus cruise missiles—to destroy Russian launch sites, rather than to strike civilian targets. He also noted that, thanks to the war, the IRIS-T air defense system has become one of the most sought-after brands in the world after the "Patriot." These remarks underscore that the restoration of infrastructure and the strengthening of air defense are viewed in Kyiv as interconnected tasks.
