Zelenskyy visits frontline troops, discusses air defenses with Finnish president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday that he visited frontline troops in eastern Ukraine and discussed strengthening air defenses with Finnish President Alexander Stubb following Russian strikes.

Zelenskyy said on Telegram that he visited the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade’s command post on the Lyman front in the eastern Donetsk region, presented state awards and discussed the unit’s missions and needs.

He said the brigade, operating alongside other units of the Third Army Corps as part of Operation Vivaldi, had brought more than 125 square kilometers (48 square miles) of territory back under Ukrainian control.

Separately, Zelenskyy said he spoke by phone with Stubb about strengthening defenses following “a new escalation of attacks” against Ukrainian cities and communities.

Ukrainian officials reported at least four deaths in overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported three deaths in the capital, while emergency services said a child was killed in Vyshgorod.

"Almost throughout the entire day, since the night, air raid alerts have continued in Kyiv and other cities and regions, with a constant threat from jet-powered Shaheds. There were also ballistic strikes at night," said Zelenskyy.

The two presidents discussed how best to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, including F-16 fighter jets and air defense capabilities, according to Zelenskyy.

The attacks have also disrupted economic activity.

Oleksandr Kravchenko, Ukraine’s economy and environment minister, told The Guardian in an interview published Wednesday that missile alerts cost the country an estimated $45 million for every hour they halt business as workers take shelter.