President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that Russia has increased the use of ballistic missiles in its latest wave of attacks on Ukraine, as repair crews race to restore power and heating to millions of civilians ahead of winter. The Ukrainian leader also urged Western allies to accelerate the delivery of air defence systems, saying Kyiv intends to order 27 US-made Patriot batteries to shield the country from intensifying strikes, reported Ukrainskaya Pravda.

“Repair crews, energy workers, and municipal services are working around the clock across most regions,” Zelenskiy said in his nightly address on November 9. “The situation is difficult, but thousands of people are engaged in stabilising the system and restoring what has been damaged. The Russians have increased their strike capability — they are using more ballistic missiles. This means we need more air defence, more equipment reserves, and clearer, faster coordination in the regions.”

Energy network under pressure

The president’s comments follow one of the heaviest Russian bombardments of Ukraine’s power infrastructure since the start of the full-scale invasion. On November 8, missiles and drones hit energy facilities in the Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Poltava, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as Naftogaz gas installations. The attack temporarily halted electricity generation at state-owned company Centrenergo’s thermal power plants, while private operator DTEK also reported damage to one of its facilities.

Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk said that the assault included one of the largest barrages of ballistic missiles directed against Ukraine’s grid to date, but that engineers managed to stabilise the system by the evening. Ukrenergo, the state-run electricity transmission operator, has introduced rolling blackouts that are expected to continue until at least the end of Monday while repairs are underway.

The Poltava and Kharkiv regions are suffering from a shortage of high-voltage capacity due to damage to transmission lines, while parts of central and northern Ukraine — including Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia and Kyiv — are also affected.

Ukraine’s military reported that Russia launched two air-launched ballistic missiles, five surface-to-air guided missiles and 67 drones, many of them Iranian-made Shahed models, during overnight strikes into Monday. Ukrainian forces said they intercepted 52 of the drones, though none of the missiles were shot down.

Growing urgency for air defences

Against the backdrop of mounting damage to the energy network, Zelenskiy has intensified his appeals for additional air defence systems. In an interview with The Guardian, the Ukrainian leader said Kyiv plans to order 27 Patriot systems from U.S. manufacturers while urging European countries to supply their existing systems in the interim.

“We would not like to wait,” Zelenskiy said, adding that several European governments could transfer Patriot batteries from their arsenals while awaiting replacements from the United States.

The president’s request marks an expansion of a plan announced in October, when Ukraine said it was preparing a contract for 25 Patriot systems. Germany has already supplied two batteries, which Zelenskiy publicly thanked Berlin for earlier this month.

“Never enough,” Zelenskiy said when asked whether the EU and the UK were doing sufficient to help Ukraine ahead of what he described as a “cold and dark winter.” “Enough will be when the war is over, when [Russian President Vladimir] Putin understands that he must stop.”

Former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said last year the country needed 25 Patriot missile systems to protect the entire country. High global demand, especially in light of events in Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East, has meant that the backlog for Patriot missile systems production can reach up to 10 years. The production of full launch systems is estimated at 12-16 per year, which is the equivalent of about two batteries, while a single Patriot battery can take one to two years to build, plus additional time for personnel training.

The US currently has only 25% of all Patriot missile interceptors needed for its own military plans, reported The Guardian. The EU does not have any extra systems to spare.

Diplomatic hesitation

Zelenskiy also acknowledged that decisions regarding a potential deployment of European or British troops as part of any peacekeeping effort must be approached with caution. The Guardian reported that France and the United Kingdom have pledged to send troops as part of a possible future settlement, though no timeline has been set.

Asked whether he would like to see British forces arrive earlier — for example, to hold a defensive position on Ukraine’s border with Belarus — Zelenskiy replied, “Of course. We have asked for many things, including weapons and membership in the EU and Nato.”

However, he warned that excessive pressure could backfire: “Leaders are afraid of their societies. They don’t want to get involved in the war. This is their choice. If I push too hard, we risk losing financial and military support from our partners.”

Continuing escalation

The renewed Russian offensive against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure coincides with limited diplomatic progress in US-led efforts to end the war. At the same time, Ukrainian forces have continued to strike Russian oil and fuel depots in response, aiming to disrupt supply lines feeding Moscow’s military.

On November 10, an explosion hit Russia’s Black Sea port of Tuapse after Ukrainian sea drones targeted an oil terminal and refinery. No casualties were reported, but the strike underscored Kyiv’s growing focus on undermining Russia’s logistical capacity as both sides brace for a protracted winter campaign.

As missile fragments litter Ukrainian cities and emergency generators hum across the country, Zelenskiy’s latest appeal for 27 Patriot systems highlights Ukraine’s acute weakness and desperation amid pleas for further Western assistance before the temperature — and morale — drop further.