Syrskyi tells U.S. general Ukraine urgently needs air defense

Syrskyi said he briefed Donahue on the situation at the front, which remains difficult. Despite heavy losses in soldiers, weapons, and military equipment, Russia continues its offensive operations.

“At the same time, the enemy is carrying out massive missile and air strikes on our rear areas — deliberately targeting energy facilities, using freezing temperatures as an additional tool of pressure and terror against Ukraine’s civilian population,” Syrskyi said.

Russian forces carried out six mass missile-and-drone attacks on Ukraine in December 2025 and early January 2026.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Russian forces have launched more than 13,300 missiles and over 142,300 strike drones at Ukraine.

Syrskyi stressed that amid this, Ukraine’s top priority remains strengthening its air shield — acquiring additional surface-to-air missile systems and ammunition for them.

He added that he aoutlined other critical needs of the Ukrainian military that could be addressed under the PURL initiative.

“I emphasized that under current conditions, achieving a sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine is possible only if our Western partners increase consolidated pressure on the enemy,” Syrskyi said.

Overnight and in the morning on Jan. 13, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 18 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles, seven Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 293 strike drones of the Shahed and Gerbera types, as well as other UAVs — about 200 of them Shaheds.

In Kharkiv suburbs, Russia struck Nova Poshta logistics terminal, killing four people and injuring at least six others.

In Odesa, enemy strikes damaged energy infrastructure and residential buildings, leaving six people injured.