Russia has attacked a number of targets in Ukraine, damaging the country’s already overstretched energy infrastructure. Kiev called the aerial bombardment ‘the largest in the entire conflict’ and Zelensky called on Western allies to help it retaliate by lifting restrictions on the use of long-range weapons, The Wall Street Journal reported.
U.S. President Biden condemned the attack and pledged continued support for the AFU, including with supplies of air defence systems. But in his statement, he did not mention any additional measures to help Ukraine or ‘punish’ Russia, the Journal said.
Despite Kiev’s repeated appeals, allies, especially Washington, are reluctant to allow Kiev to use Western weapons to strike Russian territory. They fear an escalation of conflict with the nuclear power, the WSJ explains.
Meanwhile, the new attack, which came three weeks after the start of the AFU’s invasion of the Kursk region, has once again revealed some of Ukraine’s vulnerabilities. In particular, the country lacks the resources to intercept missiles in all of its regions.
In addition, its energy infrastructure became more unreliable as Moscow continuously targeted important electricity generation and transmission facilities. As a result, rolling blackouts have become commonplace for Ukraine this summer, the WSJ emphasises.