Russia-Ukraine war: Russia showing no willingness to return PoW bodies from plane crash, Kyiv says; Zelenskiy wants ‘air shield’ – as it happened

Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasizes the need for a ‘air shield’ to safeguard Ukraine from missile and drone attacks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has restated his call for an “air shield” to defend the country against missile and drone assaults.

On X, Zelenskiy highlighted, “Russia has fired more than 330 missiles of different kinds and around 600 combat drones at Ukrainian cities since the start of the year.

“To withstand such terrorist pressure, a robust air shield is necessary. And that is the kind of air shield we are constructing with our partners.

“We must ensure Ukraine’s control over its airspace, which is also crucial for ensuring security on the ground – from frontlines to hospitals and schools in the rear. Air defense and electronic warfare are our top priorities. Defeating Russian aggression is within reach.”

An embedded video in the post highlights the importance of an “effective” air shield comprising multiple layers extending from the frontlines to areas where commercial and civilian infrastructure are situated.