President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine's front-line positions this year remain stronger than they have been in a long time.
Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Ukraine would be in a much better position if its partners' military support remained as strong as it had been.
"Unfortunately, there are significant restrictions on supplies, with these air defence packages being delayed," he said in his evening address, stressing that Kiev does not have enough missiles for Patriot air defence systems, making it difficult to defend against Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy, citing a report by senior commanders, noted for the first time the "Veles" operation using pipelines in Ukraine's northeast. He also referred to an air assault operation in eastern Ukraine and the "Vivaldi" operation further to the north, designed to prevent Russian advances in key areas.
He said Operation Veles was conducted near Kupiansk, a city in northeastern Kharkiv region recaptured by Ukrainian forces in late 2022, but since then under constant Russian pressure.
"It is a strong operation, well planned and technology-driven. The Russians tried to use underground gas pipelines to advance past our positions," Zelenskiy said.
"Our fighters turned this tactic against the Russians and used the underground infrastructure against the occupiers with extraordinary success," he said.
In the Vivaldi offensive, one senior commander reported last month that Ukraine's Third Army Corps had cleared an area of 75 square kilometres of Russian infiltration groups and recaptured a further 10 square kilometres.
Difficult task
He said Russia had launched more than 100 ballistic missiles against Kiev and the surrounding region in October.
"We are doing everything possible to protect our energy sector, to protect our infrastructure and our logistics. The task is extremely difficult," he said, accusing Moscow of escalating attacks in weeks.
"It's important that the world sees this, that our partners see it in the United States, on which almost everything concerning Patriots depends, so that we get answers and the necessary authorisations from the Pentagon for Patriot supplies," he said.
Referring to talks involving Russia, Ukraine and the US expected in November, Zelenskyy said it was important for Europe to take part in the diplomatic efforts.
"Ukraine has always insisted that Europe must be present and must have a say in the decisions. And this, by the way, applies to everyone in Europe. No one should be left out of the process," he added.
