Zelenskyy seeks more F-16 jets and air defence support amid Russian attacks
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, August 13, 2025. REUTERS
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for additional F-16 fighter jets and ammunition during meetings with Belgium’s King Philippe and Prime Minister Bart De Wever as Russian attacks continued targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
On his talks with De Wever, Zelenskyy said in a post on the X on late Thursday that Russian strikes on energy facilities had left nearly 15,000 people without electricity in the Volyn region, while parts of the capital Kyiv and its surrounding region experienced partial power outages.
I discussed with Prime Minister of Belgium @Bart_DeWever the consequences of round-the-clock Russian attacks on residential buildings, energy, and other critical infrastructure in Ukraine. This evening alone, the Russians struck energy facilities in two regions. Almost 15,000… pic.twitter.com/eMHZLxd073
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 15, 2026
He warned that the threat of repeated Russian strikes was preventing repair crews from beginning restoration work in some communities.
Zelenskyy said F-16 fighter jets were playing a significant role in intercepting Russian jet-powered Shahed drones and that Ukraine was working with Belgium to secure additional aircraft as quickly as possible.
The two leaders also discussed the possibility of further ammunition supplies for the fighter jets, according to the post.
Read: Zelensky defies Trump's call for restraint
Meanwhile, during an audience with King Philippe, Zelenskyy thanked Belgium for its continued support and emphasized the urgent need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses against Russian missile and drone attacks.
He said in a separate X post that he also called for frozen Russian assets to remain immobilized throughout the war, arguing that Moscow should not regain access to financial resources that could be used to finance further attacks or destabilize Europe.