Winter Is a Weapon: British Minister Calls for Strengthened Defense
After deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv, Wes Streeting warns allies that delays in interceptor deliveries directly cause civilian casualties.
After deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv, Wes Streeting warns allies that delays in interceptor deliveries directly cause civilian casualties.
British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting has issued an urgent appeal to allies to bolster Ukraine's air defense ahead of the coming winter, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin is turning it into a weapon against the civilian population. His call came following a visit to Ukraine last week and one of the deadliest nights for the country.
In an op-ed for the Sunday Times, Streeting was blunt. "Winter in Ukraine is no longer a season. It is a weapon," he wrote, referring to Russia's years-long tactic of targeting energy infrastructure to break Kyiv's resistance. He added that "Ukrainians know what winter brings and how it can change the picture," emphasizing the importance of proactive action.
The minister described his impressions after returning from the ground. "I return from Kyiv with a clear understanding of what Ukraine needs to get through this winter. Where the United Kingdom can provide those resources, we will. And where we cannot, my task is to mobilize allies to find those capabilities," he said.
Streeting highlighted his key role in coordinating international support. "My task, together with my German counterpart Boris Pistorius, with whom I co-chair the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, is to translate the goodwill of around 50 countries into concrete aid; to turn commitment into capabilities," he said. He stressed that this must particularly include more resources for air defense.
The next meeting of this contact group, which brings together Kyiv's allies, is expected to be held in September, with the supply of air defense systems high on the agenda. Streeting's visit coincided with warnings that Ukraine is running out of key missiles to shoot down ballistic rockets.
As the British minister traveled to Ukraine on August 5, the country suffered devastating Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Seventeen people were killed in these attacks, and at least 44 were wounded. These events added extra weight to his call for urgency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted sharply after the attacks, linking delays in aid to human casualties. "Ballistic missile interceptors could have saved the lives of those who died today. It is extremely important that our partners understand that delays in their delivery or reluctance to provide anti-ballistic systems directly lead to such horrific casualties and destruction," Zelensky stated.
The situation is further complicated by a global shortage of interceptors. Deliveries from other countries to Ukraine have fallen threefold this year, as global stockpiles have been redirected to the Middle East following the start of the war between Israel and the US against Iran in late February.
Meanwhile, according to information from the Telegram channel AMK Mapping, five new missiles, colloquially dubbed "Banderoli," were dispatched toward Ukraine on August 9. Although details about the type and origin of the missiles were not specified, the news comes at a time when a race against time is underway to replenish Ukraine's defense stockpiles before winter.
