Zelensky says Russia is stockpiling missiles to attack this winter

The Ukrainian president also declared this Thursday that the crisis in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas has slowed down deliveries of shells intended for kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on November 16 that Russia is accumulating missiles to attack Ukraine in winter. The Ukrainian leader also says that the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has slowed deliveries of shells to kyiv.

“I think they are stockpiling (missiles), but they don’t have many more missiles than before. Otherwise they would have already started bombing,” he said.

Ukraine is expecting a new campaign of Russian attacks on its energy network as was the case the previous winter, when millions of Ukrainians were left without heat or electricity in freezing temperatures.

“Winter will be difficult”

“I think we are better prepared for winter than before,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. “But I don’t think Russia will use fewer weapons,” he said. “Winter will be difficult.”

“In terms of air defense, we are in a better position than last winter,” said Volodymyr Zelensky. According to him, the Ukrainian army manages to shoot down “75-80%” of Iranian-made explosive drones that Russia often uses against its neighbor, particularly during its night attacks.