Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is preparing to escalate the war, pointing to North Korean equipment shipments, rising ballistic missile production and mobilization plans. The warning follows deadly overnight Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk, while Ukrainian drones continue hitting targets deep inside Russia.
Zelenskyy points to North Korean equipment and mobilization plans
Zelenskyy said Russia is preparing for escalation, not peace, citing Moscow's growing ballistic missile production, the arrival of North Korean military equipment and preparations for mobilization. He made the comments shortly after deadly Russian attacks hit cities across Ukraine overnight.
According to CNBC: "Moscow is preparing not for peace, but for escalation", Zelenskyy said via X. He called on Ukraine's international partners to respond immediately rather than wait.
Zaporizhzhia strike killed six people
In a post on social media, Zelenskyy said emergency response efforts had been underway in Zaporizhzhia after the city was hit with North Korean ballistic missiles on Monday evening. He described the strike as a vicious attack that killed six people and injured 19. Separate attacks also struck Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk overnight, killing at least three people.
Zelenskyy called for more sanctions pressure on enterprises that fuel Russia's war effort and for more air defense assistance for Ukraine, saying both are needed to give peace a chance.
Ukraine still relies on Patriot interceptors
Russian forces have increased missile strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, likely as part of a push to exploit Kyiv's shortage of ballistic missile interceptors. Ukraine remains heavily reliant on the American Patriot PAC-3 system to intercept Russian ballistic missiles, even as domestic firms such as Fire Point work to build their own antimissile technology.
U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt last month on whether Washington would allow Kyiv to manufacture Patriots domestically and in Europe. That apparent backtrack has raised alarm among Ukrainian officials, who fear a winter assault could pose the toughest challenge of the war so far.
Source: CNBC
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