Zelenskyj adviser Zhovkva: “The only way out: not to be afraid”

Russia is targeting civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, says Zelenskyi adviser Ihor Zhovkva: Moscow wants “that we freeze in winter.” He explains how crucial he thinks missile defense systems like IRIS-T are.

ARD: Mr Zhovkwa, you were born in Kyiv. How did you experience the renewed Russian rocket attacks right in the center of the capital earlier this week?

Ihor Zhovkva: This was quite a massive and brutal attack which unfortunately left several people dead and dozens wounded. Russia has tried to wreak havoc in the Ukrainian capital, inciting panic. But they failed in their goals.

ARD: And yet there is currently a different atmosphere in the city. People are going to the bunkers more often again, they are afraid. How do you deal with that politically?

Zhovkva: When someone creates fear, the only way out is not to be afraid and to be brave. This is exactly what the Ukrainians are showing every day of this war. This is what President Zelenskyy shows and demands from the leaders and people of all civilized countries of the world. You should not be afraid of the aggressor, not afraid of possible plans that he has. Rather, it is about preventing what he may be planning to do and about reacting together.

“They want us to freeze in winter”

ARD: Russian politicians have repeatedly referred to attacks on the Crimean Bridge as a “red line,” thereby justifying the current massive attacks. What do you think of this reaction?

Schowkwa: I hate commenting on these narratives or “red lines” or ultimatums or anything like that. It’s not the first time and unfortunately not the last time. Russia attacks civilian infrastructure because of lack of successes on the battlefield. Because they fail to achieve any decisive successes against the Ukrainian armed forces. They use the tactic of fighting civilians, men and women, children. They fight against kindergartens, schools, museums, universities, the Ministry of Education. I know that was one of the last goals on Monday. Against hospitals, maternity hospitals. If this counts as the success of the so-called second strongest army in the world, where have we arrived?

ARD: Although Ukraine’s offensive is ongoing and although people are brave, the widespread attacks are frightening for many. civilians are killed. What is the Ukrainian government doing to prevent this?

Zhovkva: This is also part of Russian tactics. If we are successful at the front, in the east of Ukraine, in the south of Ukraine, in the Donbas, then they try to hit in the middle of Ukraine. They’re trying to hit the supply chains – critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure. How do we react? We repair this damage immediately.

When dozens of critical infrastructure objects were hit on Monday alone, the power supply was restored in almost all regions of Ukraine on the same day. Yes, they are increasingly attacking because winter is coming. They want us to freeze in winter.

Need for medium and long range systems

ARD: The G7 countries condemn the Russian attacks and pledge further support to Ukraine. In your opinion, is that enough? For example, Germany has delivered the IRIS-T air defense system.

Zhovkva: We definitely need more. And we thank the federal government for assuring us to supply further IRIS-T systems. It is important to understand that this is a shorter range system. We also need medium and long range systems so we have a wider radius; a wider opportunity to intercept missiles flying towards the territory of Ukraine.

I’ll give you an example: over the course of Monday, Russia fired a total of 84 ballistic missiles. Almost 50 of them were intercepted by the existing systems. Imagine if we had sophisticated medium-long range systems – we could have intercepted probably 100 percent of those ballistic missiles.

ARD: Russia destroys critical infrastructure. We talked to people in different cities who had to get by without electricity in the meantime. How critical is the situation and how big are the challenges?

Zhovkva: She is very critical. As far as the power supply is concerned, things got critical when the Russian soldiers illegally occupied the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant – a total of six reactors. This nuclear power plant was responsible for about 30 percent of Ukraine’s energy budget. And yes, they also hit thermal power plants, on purpose, in different regions of Ukraine – Lviv, Kyiv, Dnipro, Odessa – to cut off electricity supply to us. And it is clear how important the power supply is, especially in winter.

“No rational thinker would do that”

ARD: There is also the danger that Belarus could actively intervene in the war. How do you rate that, how do you deal with it?

Zhovkva: By all logical arguments, President Lukashenko should not do this because it would be the worst possible scenario for him. But Russia is already using Belarusian territory to attack Ukraine. Some missiles come from planes based at airfields in Belarus. A rational person wouldn’t do that. But we are prepared.

ARD: What does that mean specifically?

Zhovkva: We have our border controls and armed forces ready to withstand any possible attack.

ARD: The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has now been going on for more than seven months. Diplomats say that every war ends with a diplomatic agreement.

Zhovkva: Definitive. Every war ends at the negotiating table. But in our case the war will end with the victory of Ukraine. And that’s why I like the positions of our partners. Almost all the heads of state of the countries I speak to see very clearly: only Ukraine will determine the nature of victory.

What “victory” means from the point of view of Ukraine? How should it be reached? That is very easy. With the support of our partners, with arms deliveries, with the introduction of further sanctions and with financial support. When we win, we’ll see. Currently, peace negotiations can only be conducted on the battlefield.

The conversation was conducted by Vassili Golod, WDR, currently Kyiv