Ukraine's defence minister issues fresh request to allies for jets

‘We’ve received everything on our wish list to Santa – except warplanes’: Ukraine’s defence minister issues fresh request to western allies for jets to challenge Russia’s air superiority

• Oleksii Reznikov said he hopes western forces will offer fighter planes to Ukraine
• Leaders expressed concern that providing warplanes could provoke the Kremlin
• Read: Ex-US Marine killed in Russian missile attack while evacuating civilians

Ukraine’s defence minister has expressed confidence that western allies will agree to the country’s latest weapons request of warplanes to fight off Russian forces.

Oleksii Reznikov said Ukraine has already received everything from its ‘wish list to Santa’, except planes. 

‘There will be planes, too,’ Mr Reznikov told a news conference in Kyiv.

‘The question is just what kind exactly…. Consider that this mission is already completed.’ 

So far, Ukraine has won support from Baltic nations and Poland in its quest to obtain western fighter jets. 

Oleksii Reznikov (pictured) said Ukraine has already received everything from its ‘wish list to Santa’, except planes

A wounded local resident stands next to his apartment building damaged by a Russian missile strike in Kharkiv

Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a damaged residential building following a missile strike in Kharkiv

But several western leaders have expressed concern that providing warplanes could provoke the Kremlin and draw their countries deeper into the conflict, which over the past year has cost tens of thousands of lives and wreaked massive destruction. 

Kyiv says such jets are essential to challenging Russia’s air superiority and ensuring success in a Russian offensive that Mr Reznikov predicted could begin around the war’s one-year anniversary, February 24. 

‘Not all western weapons will arrive by then, but we have the resources and reserves to help stabilise and sustain the offensive,’ Mr Reznikov told reporters. 

Since the war began, western leaders have balked at some of Ukraine’s requests, such as for longer-range missiles and tanks, only to agree later. 

The warplanes are the latest example. Ukraine has relocated its warplanes and concealed air defence assets, hampering Moscow’s efforts to gain full control of the skies. 

After suffering early losses, the Russian air force has avoided venturing deep into Ukraine’s airspace and mostly focused on close frontline support. 

German-made tanks are on the way to Ukraine. 

Olena, 63, holds her head as people receive humanitarian aid, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of Bahmut, in Donetsk region

People receive humanitarian aid, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, on the outskirts of Bahmut

Ukrainian army called Tina by the unit, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near Bahmut, in Donetsk region

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius rides a tank as he visits the Leopard II tanks that are due to be supplied to Ukraine

Mr Reznikov said his forces would begin training on Leopard tanks in Europe on Monday, before their delivery to Ukraine. 

So far, Canada, Poland, Germany, Great Britain and the United States have announced they will supply tanks to Ukraine. 

The Kremlin has said western countries’ supply of increasingly sophisticated and more weapons will only prolong the conflict, and it has characterised Nato as a direct participant. 

Mr Reznikov, commenting on the supply of western weapons and the state of the Ukrainian army, took the rhetoric further on Sunday, saying: ‘I absolutely boldly claim that we have become a de facto Nato country. We only have a de jure part left.’ 

Ukraine has applied to join Nato, as have two of Russia’s other neighbours, Finland and Sweden. 

On the battlefield, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said four people were injured today when a Russian S-300 missile fell near an apartment block in Kharkiv city, and another was hurt when a missile hit a university building. 

Video footage showed the building hit was the National Academy for Urban Economy, about 700 metres from the city’s central square. 

At least four people were injured after two Russian missiles hit apartment blocks in downtown Kharkiv

The statue of architect Alexei Beketov in front of a damaged building of the Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy following a missile strike in Kharkiv

Further damage to the Kharkiv National University of Urban Economy following a Russian missile strike

Meanwhile, heavy fighting continued in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, one of four regions that Russia illegally annexed last year even though its forces do not fully control the area. 

Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said five civilians were wounded in rocket attacks during the night in the city of Druzhkivka and that the town of Avdiivka and its outskirts were also fired on. 

In the Black Sea port of Odesa, workers laboured to connect temporary generators shipped in to restore electricity. 

The city and surrounding area were plunged into darkness over the weekend following a large-scale network failure. 

Grid operator Ukrenergo said that the failure involved equipment ‘repeatedly repaired’ after Russia’s savage strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid, and that residents should brace themselves for lengthy blackouts. 

As of Sunday afternoon, about 280,000 customers – 40% of the customers – remained without power, said prime minister Denis Shmyhal. 

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