Foreign minister urges stronger air defenses after deadly drone raid

Andriy Sybily, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, called for an urgent expansion of the nation’s air‑defence capabilities after a recent drone attack in Pavlohrad left five dead and dozens wounded. The strike, which hit civilians near a shopping centre, was described as a terror‑tactic intended to intimidate the population.

Sybily stressed that Russia’s relentless targeting of civilian zones is designed to exhaust Ukraine’s resolve and push it toward a negotiated settlement. He appealed to allies for the rapid delivery of additional interceptor missiles and modern air‑defence systems, which he says are essential to protect everyday life.

He also demanded that sanctions on Russia’s weapons industry and its funding sources be intensified, arguing that cutting off the supply chain will weaken Moscow’s capacity to conduct further attacks. The minister concluded that alert systems must be amplified in all partner capitals and that decisive action, not just rhetoric, is required.